By Jenni Canterbury
When Donald Kenneda first enrolled in the electric distribution engineering technology (EDET) line service program at New River Community and Technical College (CTC), he wasn’t sure he’d be able to complete the rigorous program. He did it, though, and he wasn’t alone. In August 2016, he graduated with his son, Justin, and 30 other students, which included another father and son pair, Cecil and Justin Lester.
“The first three weeks are the most challenging,” says Mike King, a visiting instructional specialist of line service mechanics. “If you can make it through the first three weeks, you can make it through the program.”
Donald and Justin Kenneda Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Belcher
Donald and Justin were able to encourage each other and do homework together, and Donald’s past experience helped him retrain. Donald worked in the mining industry for more than 10 years and learned about New River CTC’s accelerated EDET program through the unemployment office and United Mine Workers of America (UMWA).
New River CTC is one of the state community colleges working with agencies like WorkForce West Virginia to reach dislocated workers and displaced homemakers to help them train for new careers. A National Emergency Grant provides up to $5,000 to educate and retrain these individuals in occupations expected to be in-demand with programs offered at New River CTC, such as CDL, HVAC, EDET, welding and allied health programs.
During the past year, the college has created an evening EDET cohort, accelerated EDET cohort and accelerated electro mechanical instrumentation program to meet the needs of both industry and displaced workers. New River CTC also participates in the state’s Learn and Earn initiative, providing adult students with both paid work experience and college credit.
Mountain State businesses look to these programs for well-trained, experienced workers. According to James Banner, director of Pike Electric, New River CTC is the first choice when the company needs new employees in the West Virginia region.
Cecil and Justin Lester
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Belcher
Justin Lester started as an EDET student in the Learn and Earn program through New River CTC and Pike Electric earlier in the year. After his father, Cecil, found himself unemployed from the utility industry, he enrolled in the accelerated EDET program offered over the summer.
“It’s a good program,” Cecil says. “The instructors are good, and they provide the constructive criticism you need for learning the industry.”
The training is more than paying off. Interim Dean of Workforce Education Joseph Hazelwood reported that, to date, 22 of the summer session EDET graduates have received job offers.
New River CTC serves nine counties in southeastern West Virginia, from the Greenbrier Valley campus in Lewisburg, Mercer County campus in Princeton, Nicholas County campus in Summersville and Raleigh County campus in Beckley.
About the Author
Jenni Canterbury is the public relations manager at New River Community and Technical College. She has more than 13 years of experience teaching and working in public relations and marketing. Canterbury earned a bachelor’s degree in communications arts from Concord College and a master’s degree in global marketing, communication and advertising from Emerson College.
