Kentucky Electric Cooperatives invests in SKYCTC Lineman Scholarship Endowment

Pictured from left: Joe Arnold, VP of Strategic Communications,Kentucky Electric Cooperative; Dwayne McDonald, President/CEO of Warren Rural Electric Cooperative; Dr. Ryan Quarles, President/CEO of KCTCS; Dr. Michelle Trawick, President SKYCTC; Jeremy Denny, CFO,KY Electric Cooperative; and Randy Meredith, Director of Safety and Training, KY Electric Cooperative.

Bowling Green, KY – Electric cooperative lineworkers in Kentucky now have a new pathway to earning a college degree thanks to a partnership between Kentucky Electric Cooperatives and Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC).

Kentucky Electric Cooperatives recently presented $75,000 to SKYCTC to support the Lineman Scholarship Endowment established in 2024. The funding was made possible through support from Kentucky Electric Cooperatives and Kentuckians who purchase lineman-themed specialty license plates. The gift will also be matched through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), doubling the impact of the contribution.

The scholarship supports students enrolled in the Lineworker Certification Program through Kentucky Electric Cooperatives who wish to pursue an associate degree at SKYCTC or other KCTCS colleges. Endowment funds may also be used to purchase materials, equipment, and supplies that directly support the education and training of students in the program.

Apprentice lineworkers will continue to get high-level training, but now they’ll also be able to get an associate degree from SKYCTC, which really reinforces to those who are going into this industry that this isn’t just a job; it’s a career, providing opportunities for them to be able to grow in that career.

The degree program recognizes as college credit the training students receive through the Lineman Apprenticeship Program administered by Kentucky Electric Cooperatives, the association representing all 26 electric cooperatives in the Commonwealth. Safety instructors lead the four-year formalized apprenticeship training and certification program utilizing the curriculum of Northwest Lineman College, a nationally recognized leader in lineman safety and education.

“Electric lineworkers rely on rigorously tested skills and knowledge to safeguard their lives and the safety of every electric consumer,” said Randy Meredith, Safety and Training Director of Kentucky Electric Cooperatives. “This partnership recognizes the professionalism of this crucial career and invests in the talented people who commit their lives to the craft.”

SKYCTC leaders say the investment will create expanded educational opportunities for students pursuing careers in the electrical utility industry.

“We are incredibly grateful for this transformative investment,” said Heather Rogers, Vice President of Resource Development and Executive Director of the SKYCTC Foundation. “We are honored that Kentucky Electric Cooperatives has chosen to partner with us. By leveraging the KCTCS matching grant program, we will effectively double the impact of this contribution, ensuring that these funds provide vital support for generations of linemen to come.”

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to workforce development and preparing highly trained professionals to meet Kentucky’s growing energy infrastructure needs.