Editor's Note: Download the high-resolution photo and Video of the Calhoun Community College Pre-Apprentice Lineworker School graduates competing in a lineman rodeo pole climbing competition as part of the graduation ceremony.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A partnership between the Tennessee Valley Authority and Huntsville Utilities will provide $100,000 in scholarship funding to train and educate utility lineworkers. Calhoun Community College will manage the scholarships and enroll students in the college’s Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Program. The partnership was created to address the growth in the Huntsville-Madison County population, which led to a demand for services resulting in an increased need for utility lineworkers.

As part of this partnership, a total of 10 recipients will be selected among applicants to receive a scholarship, which includes free tuition for the seven-week course, a daily gift card for lunch, and a bag equipped with basic lineworker tools upon graduation.

“As electricity demand grows, we need a skilled workforce to provide affordable, reliable and sustainable power,” said Jared Mitchem, Regional Vice President for TVA's South Region. “Partnering with Huntsville Utilities and Calhoun Community College ensures that we can recruit and train the workforce we need as we build the energy system of the future.”

TVA has more than 16,000 miles of power lines that crisscross seven states, plus approximately 263,000 miles of lines that are managed by 153 local power companies. Reflecting on his time in the program, one recent graduate shared how meaningful his experience was.

“I learned a lot from it, more than anything else I’ve done in a 7-week period,” shared Hayden Grubbs, who’s currently working as a groundman with aspirations to be a lineman. “It was very hands-on and not just sitting in a classroom. The instructors were very straightforward and gave us important information about safety practices, so that when we joined the workforce, we would know how to protect ourselves and recognize the qualities of a good boss. After the program, I feel 100% prepared.”

Four scholarship recipients have completed the required coursework, with the most recent two being recognized at the Calhoun Community College graduation on December 15. Madison County residents who are interested in the program can register and submit a scholarship application online for the next course starting in January 2024.