Winter 2012 - SCANA Corporation

SCE&G worked with
Midlands Technical
College to create a
nuclear engineering
technician
curriculum.
Petrina Williams
and Jack Strange,
students at Midlands
Technical College,
discuss nuclear
careers at V.C.
Summer Nuclear
Station with a plant
employee.
ATC offers certification
At Aiken Technical College, a similar partnership
was forged with tomorrow’s nuclear workforce in mind.
Graduates from the radiation protection program are
now eligible to receive certification from the National
Academy for Nuclear Training, making it the first such
certified initiative in South Carolina, North Carolina or
Georgia.
These certified workers can go to work at any U.S.
nuclear plant with their training credits already in hand.
“Earning the certificate significantly reduces the
amount of training by the utility to only site specifics,”
said David Deal, department chair of industry and
skilled trades at ATC. “That equals a big cost savings
for the employer and increased opportunities for our
graduates. It’s a win-win situation for the employer and
our graduates.”
Interns lead the way
In addition to fortifying its partnerships with
technical colleges and universities, SCANA recently
expanded its nuclear internship program to include
high school students from Fairfield County. It’s never
too soon to start attracting students in to the highly
specialized nuclear industry. “It was a good summer for
these students, and they learned a lot,” said Archie.
Many of the V.C. Summer interns end up being
offered full-time jobs once they graduate from college.
After two years as an intern, Beth Quattlebaum took a
full-time position as a nuclear licensing engineer. She
said SCANA’s reputation, the stability of the U.S. nuclear
industry and the company’s new nuclear project all
played roles in her decision.
“All of the responsibilities I had as an intern
transitioned over into my current full-time position,”
she said.
The areas targeted by the program mirror the critical
nuclear job groups identified by SCANA: engineering;
chemistry; and health physics.
Between its internship program, agreements with
colleges and universities, and focus on developing a
new nuclear workforce for the 21st century, SCANA is
well-positioned to thrive during the upcoming nuclear
renaissance.
Educational partners
build future workforce
Partnerships with the following schools throughout the
Southeast help strengthen the development of the company’s
nuclear workforce:
• South Carolina State University
• Francis Marion University
• Clemson University
• University of South Carolina
• Georgia Institute of Technology
• Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College
• York Technical College
• Aiken Technical College
• Midlands Technical College
• Fairfield County Public Schools
26 INSIGHTS • WINTER 2012
WINTER 2012 • INSIGHTS 27