DENMARK, SC – Denmark Technical College recently kicked off the fall cohort of their new Nuclear Fundamentals Certificate program. This program, which provides an “earn while you learn” apprenticeship in conjunction with Apprenticeship Carolina, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) and Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC), is part of the Savannah River Site (SRS) Apprenticeship School which trains employees in a variety of disciplines in an effort to fill vacancies the nuclear energy workforce.
“Denmark Technical College is excited to continue our partnership with Savannah River Mission Completion, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions and Apprenticeship Carolina to help fill the workforce pipeline for industry and provide economic mobility for the students we serve,” said Willie L. Todd Jr., Ph.D., Denmark Technical College pesident and Chief Executive Officer.
“We can’t say enough about this wonderful program and partnership. Denmark Technical College is changing lives and supporting industry with this innovative program,” said Hadi Hamid, Ph.D.,” Denmark Technical College assistant vice president of industrial related technologies and workforce.
The Denmark Technical College Nuclear Fundamentals Certificate is a seven-month program in which adult learners spend two days a week at SRS and two days a week in class at Denmark Tech. In addition to classroom training, students will also have the opportunity for hands-on learning and job shadowing for various roles at SRS.
This cohort has offered positions to thirteen impressive 13 apprentices, eight from SRMC and five from SRNS, who were chosen from a pool of hundreds of applicants. In addition to earning a paycheck while they are in class, students won’t have to come out of pocket to pay for the courses which are funded by the State Apprenticeship Grant, the University Engagement Grant and SC Workforce Development funding.
Officials from Denmark Tech, SRMC and SRNS were on hand at the kickoff to welcome the new apprentices to the program and offer words of wisdom.
Savannah River Mission Completion President and Program Manager Dave Olson told the students that they are needed in this program for a number of reasons. “There is no doubt you are needed. SRMC needs you. You are each necessary to assure we accomplish our mission to safely clean-up nuclear waste generated over the years at Savannah River Site,” Olson said. “Your coworkers need you to work together to get the job done, your community needs you to help protect the environment and your family needs you to support them.”
This is the third cohort for the nuclear fundamentals program at DTC. This first graduated seven students in April and the second will commence with 21 graduates in December.
After completing the program, graduates will continue in their full-time positions at SRS where they will apply their newly acquired skills to become fully qualified nuclear operators. They will also have the opportunity transfer their academic credits to other programs if they choose to pursue a degree in the field.
“We are thrilled with the students who have been chosen for this cohort and can’t wait to see what all they will accomplish. There is no doubt they are on a trajectory for a long and fulfilling career in the energy industry and we’re so happy they are getting their start and Denmark Tech,” said Todd.
