The City of Leesburg Electric has donated a bucket truck to the Lake-Sumter State College Foundation for use by the school’s energy programs.
The truck, which originally was part of Leesburg’s fleet but was replaced with a newer vehicle on the city’s standard replacement cycle, will help provide real-world training experiences for future line workers in the Electrical Distribution Technology program.
“Lake-Sumter State College is an important partner for our Electric Department to recruit quality employees and provide ongoing training for our current employees,” said Leesburg City Manager Al Minner. “We are pleased to contribute to Lake-Sumter State College and support the next generation of line workers.”
The U.S. Department of Labor anticipates an 8 percent increase in the number of electrical line workers employed by 2028. Coupled with expected retirements as the existing workforce ages, training programs like LSSC’s Electrical Utility Institute provide a valuable opportunity for students to enter a stable career that’s in high demand and offers a high wage.
“We are appreciative for this bucket truck donation from the City of Leesburg,” said Dr. Stan Sidor, president of Lake-Sumter State College. “Our strong industry partnerships, including the City of Leesburg, allow us to enhance our programs to train and prepare our students for real-world situations using real-world equipment in these important careers.”
Line workers are the essential employees who install and maintain power lines and electrical distribution systems. Whether during a hurricane or COVID-19, they are charged with continuing to maintain the electrical grid and respond to outages to keep the lights on at homes and businesses across the country.
For more information about the energy programs offered at LSSC, visit www.lssc.edu/energy.
