Mon Power Employees Support Workforce Development Competition for West Virginia’s Best Technical Students
As a career electrician with 30 years under his belt, Harrison Power Station’s Stewart Whitehair believes he has a responsibility to educate future generations about opportunities in the field.
That’s why he serves on the Marion County Technical Center’s Advisory Council for its electrical program and, in recent years, became involved in helping to facilitate an annual competition held by a workforce development organization, SkillsUSA.
The organization hosts events across the country that showcase the best career and technical education students. Contests begin at the local level and progress through state and national levels. Over the past two years, Whitehair has served as a judge for the electrical portions of the SkillsUSA Competition in West Virginia at the Marion County Technical Center.
“We need to get more young people interested in pursuing careers in vocational and technical jobs,” said Whitehair. “SkillsUSA is dedicated to developing students for jobs in a variety of career fields, such as carpentry, culinary arts, electrical construction wiring, industrial motor control, plumbing and welding. The organization’s goal is to help strengthen the next generation of our nation’s workforce.”
In March, Whitehair and his fellow Harrison Power Station electrician, Tim Lee, assisted in judging both the Electrical Construction Wiring and Industrial Motor Control competitions, which are designed to test participants' physical abilities.
“I enjoyed judging these competitions last year, but it was an even greater experience to participate alongside a friend and colleague this year,” Whitehair said. “It gets us excited to see young minds work to wire circuits, bend conduit and troubleshoot motor control circuits.”
Stewart used company-issued “Volunteer Time Off” (VTO) to judge the competitions, which took place during regular work hours. Mon Power employees are allotted 16 hours of VTO each year to participate in volunteer events sponsored by 501(c)(3) organizations that matter to them and help strengthen the community they serve.
“I appreciate that Mon Power gives employees opportunities to use our knowledge and experience to help prepare students and shape their futures,” said Whitehair. “College isn’t for everyone, and young people interested in pursuing careers in vocational and technical jobs can make a good salary and earn a good living.”
The winners of the state competition will represent West Virginia at the national SkillsUSA Championships in Atlanta this summer.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Hannah Catlett, (440) 554-5346