COVERT, MI – Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph), top Republican on the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment and strong supporter of nuclear power, announced Monday (June 7th) that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has awarded Lake Michigan College $90,000 which includes funds for up to ten scholarships in nuclear job training.
In 2008, Lake Michigan College launched its Energy Production Technology Program in partnership with the Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman and Palisades Power Plant in Covert, to train professionals for careers in nuclear power plant operations. The program was developed in response to the anticipated need by both plants for a pool of highly qualified workers to step in when many in today’s nuclear workforce enter retirement. Currently, more than 200 students are enrolled in the program.
“The program at LMC is a prime example of the nuclear industry partnering with local academic institutions to fill good-paying jobs at our local plants from within the community,” said Upton. “I commend Dr. Harrison and his colleagues at LMC for their vision and leadership in creating the innovative Energy Production Technology degree program that provides graduates the opportunity to find good jobs in their own backyard. The Cook and Palisades plants are such invaluable members of our community, providing stable electricity and hundreds of high paying jobs, all the while pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into our local economy.”
The program, which is housed at the college’s M-TEC facility in Benton Harbor, has four specialized associate degree tracks which prepare students for careers in the nuclear industry – Chemistry, Crafts, Health Physics – Radiation Protection, and Power Plant Operation. Leaders from Cook and Palisades have been instrumental in assisting the College with curriculum development, and have helped to ensure that training is based on uniform standards used in the nuclear industry throughout the country. This gives graduates of LMC’s program the advantage of having the skills needed to begin a career at any facility in the country, as well as at the two plants that play such an important role locally.
“The support from the NRC through these scholarships will help ensure that our best and brightest residents will be able to receive the training they need to enter this exciting and important career field,” stated Lake Michigan College President Dr. Robert Harrison. “Nuclear power is a vital industry to this region and we are glad to be able to play a part in providing the skilled workforce needed for the future. The generous spirit of partnership that the Cook Nuclear and Palisades Power Plants have demonstrated during the development of the Energy Production Technology program has been the determining factor in the success our students are experiencing. The ongoing support of both power plants will continue to be the key to providing our students with the training they need to enter careers in the power generation industry.”
Outside of the traditional classroom setting, students complete a 40-hour field experience course at the local plants. During their field experience, they are introduced to various areas of the operation. Additionally, some students also benefit from the ten summer internships provided by the local plants. The program’s first graduating class was recognized during LMC’s commencement ceremony this May. Those graduates are now in the process of applying for local positions, as well as jobs at plants across the country.
Source: News release from Congressman Fred Upton
