Education and training is not one-size-fits-all; trade school may be the perfect solution for people who are not wanting to pursue a college education but still want a career with good pay, benefits and opportunities. As Doug Dalton, President of Baker Technical Institute (BTI) puts it, “We’ve seen a shift in the last few years, where there is such a lack of trained skilled workers, which has resulted in a demand that has driven up wages in many industries. We now have the average skilled labor job paying more than the average bachelor's degree job.”
Institutions like BTI work with industry leaders to understand their workforce needs and to provide the necessary skills training. This type of education provides new career opportunities for many in fields that they may not have considered before. OTEC supports this type of education through scholarships to trade and lineworker schools.
Did you know that there are nearly 10,000 vocational schools across the U.S., each providing a range of degree options including welding, plumbing, HVAC, diesel technology, and others? Unlike traditional university degrees, students at these schools are more likely to secure employment before graduating and achieve a faster return on their educational investment. Trade schools provide hands-on training which is directly related to the industry, a shorter path to graduation, cost-effectiveness (lower tuition and shorter training time means many students are able to graduate with little or no debt), and in many cases a high earning potential.
The OTEC Member Foundation offers $5,000 scholarships for those seeking to become a lineworker and $2,500 scholarships to attend a trade school.
A skilled labor shortage may restrict a company’s capacity to develop and thrive, which could lead to the creation of fewer jobs. Companies might only be able to add new employment if they find the skilled individuals they need to grow their businesses.
The OTEC Member Foundation and Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative wish to congratulate the following recipients of Trade and Lineworker Scholarships!
- $5,000 Line School Scholarship: Cash Moore, Kyle Pfeifer, Till Winegar
- $2,500 Trade School Scholarships: Jacob Cannon, Caleb Huston, Joe Morton, Avalon Perkins, Spencer Wheeler
Additionally, the Greg Hoover Memorial $2,500 Trade Scholarship was awarded to Tanner Lucas. This scholarship honors Greg Hoover’s life of hard work in the trades. Greg was a talented mechanic, licensed contractor, and owner/operator of an excavation company and an RV Park. Greg was a jack of all trades in the truest sense of the statement. Memorial and Named scholarship funds can be set up by contacting the OTEC Member Foundation at memberfoundation@otec.coop.
“Greg Hoover sounds like a man that we should all strive to be,” stated Tanner Lucas. “I know that I am not him, but he is the kind of man I would love to be one day. I know that this scholarship will help me towards a brighter future which I am forever grateful for. I am attending BTI to get certified in Welding and Heavy Equipment Operations.”
Applications for trade and lineman school scholarships are open year-round.
Visit the scholarship page on OTEC’s website to learn more and apply – otec.coop/scholarships