Oroville Students Volunteer Time for Community Project
1/13/2010
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Northwest Lineman College students recently assisted in the Catalyst project by volunteering their time to better the community and lives of others. Catalyst is a program that provides assistance to domestic violence victims by supplying temporary housing and support services.
Tony Alves, Training Specialist at NLC led the class and provided direction and instruction to ensure safety and learning on the project. As part of the curriculum in the Electrical Lineworker Program (ELP) students are encouraged to volunteer for community and charitable projects. Companies in the power delivery industry routinely focus on betterment of their community and promote selfless service in their employees. “It is the culture and behavior of a journey level lineworker to donate their time to help others” said Alves. “By teaching students that the impact and service they provide is more than a paycheck, it will not only better the community and company they work for but also the trade.”
During the project students didn’t just work, they learned. Students learned how to interact and effectively communicate with engineers, project managers, utility personnel and the public. The project required the setting of nine poles and anchors to support a canvas to protect key areas of the project from the weather and elements. Students were also responsible for installing and connecting street lights to provide visibility for construction crews at night. Part of this required that students develop solutions for scheduling of crews, material and equipment. Students also had to coordinate utility locates and procurement of lighting for the project.
This was an invaluable learning opportunity for NLC students and a chance for them to contribute to a significant community effort.
Mike Hennesey
California Campus President
For more information on the Catalyst project:
http://www.orovillemr.com/news/ci_14170246