The Columbia State Community College Office of Workforce and Continuing Education recently hosted a Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Academy Mini-Rodeo that allowed students to demonstrate the skills they learned during the seven-week program.

“The Pre-Apprentice Lineworker mini-rodeo event highlights the technical skills developed by our participants over the past seven weeks,” said Melody Murphy, Columbia State Workforce and Continuing Education director. “This event is also an opportunity to showcase the significant partnerships we’ve forged with local utilities and municipalities across Middle Tennessee. I am extremely proud of these community partnerships and grateful for the opportunity to spotlight the hard work of our students at the rodeo.”

Upon completion of the program, the students received a Tennessee Valley Public Power Association climbing certification, first aid and CPR certifications, OSHA 10 with ET&D certification and NSC flagger certification. In addition, the students are prepared to sit for a commercial driver’s license.

“A big thank you to Altec Inc. for generously lending our Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Summer 2024 students the use of a digger derrick truck!” Murphy said. “Your support has been beyond impactful in providing hands-on training opportunities.”

During the mini-rodeo, students competed in different activities including the 80-foot pole climb, bell change and switch transfer.

In the first activity, students climb up and down an 80-foot pole, which is a necessary part of the TVPPA Climbing Lab Certification. In this activity, Brady O’Neal from Shelbyville came in first place, Cole Darnell from Rockvale came in second place and Cooper Dudley from Dickson came in third place.

The bell change and switch transfer are activities linemen would do in the field as a result of lightning, loose connections or replacement of aging materials to maintain electricity for those in the service area.

In the bell change, students climb a 40-foot pole and change out the bell that holds the line to the pole. In this activity, Zach Bowlin from Unionville came in first place, Bryce Tankersley from Belfast came in second place and Cannon Cervantes from Chapel Hill came in third place.

In the switch transfer, students climb a 40-foot pole to change out the switch attached to the cross-arm of the pole. In this activity, Brady O’Neal from Shelbyville came in first place, Ethan Brightman from Burns came in second place and Cannon Cervantes from Chapel Hill came in third place.

In the overall rodeo, Brady O’Neal from Shelbyville came in first place, Cannon Cervantes from Chapel Hill came in second place and Ethan Brightman from Burns came in third place.

In addition to his performance in the rodeo, Zachary Bowlin from Unionville was presented with the Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Academy Outstanding Student Award.

Seven scholarships were awarded through grants from the United Way of Greater Nashville’s (UWGN) Transformation Fund and the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI).

UWGN’s Transformation Fund is intended to fuel transformational outcomes across the UWGN multi-county footprint by investing in several priority areas, including workforce development.  Funding for the Transformation Fund was provided to UWGN by a generous gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

MSI was launched in 2019 by Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to provide workforce opportunities for students interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to find meaningful and well-paying careers in fields and positions. Columbia State is the first community college in Tennessee to receive a MSI grant.

The Pre-Apprentice Lineworker program is a result of communities from across Middle Tennessee coming together to fill a need in the workforce. After the rodeo, participants will complete their CDL skills training to test for their CDL Class A-57 license and be ready to join the industry as an apprentice lineworker. 

For more information about the program, please visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Lineworker. Upcoming cohorts are scheduled for spring and fall 2025. All individuals interested in the program should register through the link to be placed on a contact list for future classes. Scholarships will be available, and interested participants can sign up for the contact list at www.campusce.net/columbiastate/course/course.aspx?catId=6.