Dr. Stanley Sidor, left, president of Lake-Sumter Stage College, and Brad Chase, director of Leesburg Electric, are shown with the donated bucket truck at LSSC’s Electric Utility Institute in Sumterville. // Photo provided.

The city of Leesburg Electric has donated a bucket truck to the Lake-Sumter State College Foundation for LSSC’s Energy Programs, increasing real-world training experiences for future lineworkers in the college’s Electrical Distribution Technology program, according to a news release.

The truck was formerly part of Leesburg’s fleet and was replaced with a newer vehicle on their standard replacement cycle.

“Lake-Sumter State College is an important partner for our Electric Department to recruit quality employees and provide ongoing training for our current employees,” Leesburg City Manager Al Minner says in the release. “We are pleased to contribute to Lake-Sumter State College and support the next generation of lineworkers.”

The U.S. Department of Labor anticipates an eight percent increase in the number of electrical lineworkers 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 high wage.

“We are appreciative for this bucket truck donation from the city of Leesburg,” Dr. Stan Sidor, president of Lake-Sumter State College, adds in the release. “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.”

Lineworkers are the essential employees who install and maintain our power lines and electrical distribution systems. Whether during a hurricane or COVID-19, lineworkers continue to maintain the electrical grid and respond to outages to keep the lights on at homes and businesses across the country.

LSSC offers degrees and college-credit certificates aligned with industry training requirements for a seamless transition into the workforce. Learn more or apply to these programs at lssc.edu/energy.