NDAREC recognizes graduates of lineworker apprenticeship program
MANDAN, N.D. — The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) is proud to announce the graduation of 13 lineworkers from its apprenticeship program. Over the last 60 years, more than 725 people have completed the program. To graduate, apprentices must complete 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and more than 400 hours of study.
“On behalf of NDAREC, I’d like to congratulate this year’s graduates,” says NDAREC Safety and Services Director Christy Roemmich. “It is critical for North Dakota’s electric cooperatives to plan for the future and train our workforce. Apprenticeship is an important part of that plan. Our apprentices recognize the value of paid on-the-job training coupled with a robust educational component that helps build generational greatness in our industry.”
On Jan. 13, NDAREC hosted a graduation ceremony to formally recognize the following lineworkers, who completed the apprenticeship program in 2021:
- Tristen Schwartz, Capital Electric Cooperative
- Dillon Steinolfson, KEM Electric Cooperative
- Tyler Schummer, KEM Electric Cooperative
- CJ Pesicka, Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative
- Tanner Holte, Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative
- Tucker Lien, Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative
- Matt Meland, Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative
- Mitchell Quist, Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative
- Trent Edens, Nodak Electric Cooperative
- Brock Janikowski, Nodak Electric Cooperative
- Jesse Sturman, Nodak Electric Cooperative
- Carter Scanson, Verendrye Electric Cooperative
- Brett Silkey, 3 C Construction
Carter Scanson, Verendrye Electric Cooperative, received this year's Outstanding Apprentice Award, which is sponsored by the North Dakota Managers Association. Scanson was the highest-ranking apprentice in both related studies and on-the-job performance.
NDAREC presented graduates with a certificate during an awards ceremony held in conjunction with the Apprenticeship, Training and Safety (AT&S) Conference on Jan. 13.
NDAREC is the statewide trade association for 16 electric distribution cooperatives and five generation and transmission cooperatives operating in North Dakota. The distribution cooperatives provide electricity to more than 250,000 North Dakotans. NDAREC services include legislative advocacy, line worker safety training and professional development services, cooperative business development, and communication services including publication of the North Dakota Living magazine.