AVONDALE, Arizona — The Arizona Sun Corridor- Get Into Energy Consortium (ASC-GIEC) recently awarded prizes to winners of the 2013 Careers in Energy Essay Contest, hosted during the month of October. A total of six high school juniors and seniors placed for grand prizes.
The contest, which was open to all high school juniors and seniors in Arizona, prompted participants to watch an educational video and conduct research for a career in nuclear power, natural gas, electrical engineering or coal energy generation. Students then composed individual essays of 1,000 words or more, highlighting their research as well as their personal career interests.
Maria Torres, a junior at Tolleson High School, was awarded the top honor, receiving an iPad® mini and a scholarship for the Energy Industry Fundamentals (EIF) course at one of the five ASC-GIEC colleges.
Torres impressed the contest judges with her extensive research and passion for a newly discovered career opportunity. She utilized her essay to outline the role that energy has come to play in the modern world, focusing on nuclear generation.
“Radiation protection technician caught my attention because it would be great to have a job where my main priority is to make sure the people and the environment around me are safe,” Torres wrote, commenting on her desire to work in the nuclear sector of the energy industry.
The panel of judges was comprised of energy industry professionals and ASC-GIEC staff, who scored the essays on content, organization and mechanics. The outcome resulted in one grand prize winner, four second prize winners and one third prize winner.
Students of Apollo High School’s drafting program secured all of the second and third place prizes; second place winners were awarded a scholarship for the EIF course at one of the five ASC-GIEC colleges, and the third prize winner received a $200 gift card to Target®. All entrants of the contest were presented with a t-shirt for their participation. The prizes were generously donated by the contest sponsors: Arizona Public Service (APS), Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS), Salt River Project (SRP) and Tucson Electric Power (TEP).
The competition was held in honor of Careers in Energy Week, an initiative founded by the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) to spread awareness about career opportunities in the energy industry. The cause is celebrated and recognized annually by energy employers and training institutions nationwide during the month of October.
About ASC-GIEC
The ASC-GIEC is comprised of five community colleges across the state of Arizona, offering associate degree pathways in Power Plant Technology, Mechatronics Engineering Technology, Industrial Maintenance and Operations, Electrical Utility Technology, Electrical Instrumentation Technology, Electrical Utility Design Technology and Engineering Technology. The programs prepare students for careers in fields such as engineering, various technician positions, plant operations and linework, which are facing high attrition rates over the next few years.
Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC), the lead college of the ASC-GIEC, will be hosting an Open House for its industrial programs from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9. The event is free and open to the public, and will showcase the Get Into Energy Power Plant Technology (PPT) program, as well as other short-term job training opportunities in Distribution Logistics, Industrial Electronics and Precision Manufacturing.
The PPT program offers entry classes every semester, providing students the opportunity to earn three national credentials embedded in the associate degree pathway. Spring courses begin January 11 and students may still enroll.
The ASC-GIEC was created through a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College to Career Training (TAACCCT) to help train trade-impacted workers and other adults for high-skill, high-wage employment in energy and mining industries. For more details about energy careers and training opportunities, visit az.getintoenergy.com.