Front from left, Instructor Craig Davis, Tyson Beard of Clinton, Parker Bell of Belzoni, Markario Brooks of Canton, Dylan Nichols of Richland, Sidney Bennett of Clinton, Adaychai Bateaste of Magee, Cammie Smith of Crystal Springs; back, Kadarius Taylor of Utica, Brayden McCool of Pearl, Chase Hankins of Raymond, Aaron Dohman of Brandon and Jaden Moore of Rolling Fork.
Twelve more students graduated from Hinds Community College’s Electrical Line Workers program on May 8, including two students in their 30s and the first woman graduate.
The class, a non-credit workforce program, is the second since the program began in fall 20024.
“Today is not just the celebration of completed coursework and hours training outside in the cold, hot, and/or rain — it is a recognition of the dedication, toughness, and resilience you’ve shown throughout this demanding program. Today marks the end of one journey and the beginning of another,” said Jason Webb, Career and Technical Education Dean for the Construction and Manufacturing pathway and the Electrical Line Worker program.
Among other tasks, the 16-week program requires students to be able to climb 40-foot and 65-foot poles, set poles by hand, build and take down lines, operate a bucket truck and a digger truck, learn about all the electrical components include transformers and perform safety tasks, including CPR. They also earned a Class A Commercial Driver License through Hinds’ partnership with KLLM Driving Academy, Webb said.
“You also have learned how to work as a team, respect the power you will deal with every day and carry the responsibility that comes with keeping the lights on — literally,” Webb said. “You’ve chosen a line of work that requires both physical strength and mental focus. A career that demands courage, precision and a deep respect for safety.”
Dylan Nichols of Richland, at age 30 one of the older students in the program, was nicknamed “chef” by his classmates because he had a long career in food service as well as sheet metal work and tree service work.
“I decided to do lineman work because I wanted to build a career. I didn’t just want a job. And I also wanted to do something that kind of made me feel like something of importance. And there’s nothing more important than keeping the lights on. it was a real good fit for me,” he said.
His next step is a job operating a bulldozer for a local company but he is hoping for an eventual job with an electric company.
Adaychai Bateaste of Magee was the first woman in the program. “I just have a passion for working hard and doing something that a lot of people wouldn’t be willing to do,” she said.
Tyson Beard of Clinton has a young daughter and “needed a career to provide for my family. This is one of the best decisions I could have made,” said Beard, 23.