Justin Lester started as an EDET student in the Learn and Earn program through New River CTC and Pike Electric earlier in the year. The state initiative allows students to intern and receive paid work experience and college credit. After his father Cecil Lester found himself unemployed from the utility industry he enrolled in the accelerated EDET program offered over the summer.
“It’s a good program,” said Cecil Lester. “The instructors are good, and they provide the constructive criticism you needed for learning the industry.”
And the training is paying off. Interim Dean of Workforce Education Joseph Hazelwood reported that, to date, 22 of the EDET students who completed the spring, evening and accelerated cohorts have job offers.