Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe will be the guest speaker at the graduation of the Southside Virginia Community College Power Line Worker Training Program.

The event will be held Nov. 21 at 10 a.m., at the Officer’s Club, Pickett Park in Blackstone. During the ceremony, the college will celebrate the 100th graduate of the program. 

Governor McAuliffe was instrumental in the early development of the program through a $200,000 Talent Solutions for Economic Development Grant. Virginia’s first Power Line Worker Training School opened on March 1, 2016 with 11 students and a lot of hope for success.  Since that date, 88 students have effectively completed the program.

The 24 students in this sixth class will provide a climbing demonstration following the ceremony at “The Playground,” adjacent to the SVCC Occupational/Technical Center at Pickett Park. Those completing the program earn credentials in Commercial Driver’s License, OSHA10, CPR/First Aid, NCCER Power Line Worker Level 1 and VDOT Traffic Controller.

The seventh class begins February 19, 2018.  For more information, call Susan Early at (434) 292-3101.