During Tuesday's Tech Talk on KVOE, the college's power plant technology program was highlighted. Instructor Richard Vilander says the program initially began as an effort of the Wolf Creek generating station in the early 2000s to create a pipeline for future employees. After receiving a grant about seven years ago, FHTC broadened the program so it was less specific to the nuclear plant and more specific to the power generation industry as a whole.
Students in the power plant technology program are on a fast track to finish coursework in three semesters plus a summer. The coursework is intense and credits can also be earned beginning as a junior in high school.
In addition to placing students in jobs at power plants, students can also find themselves exploring opportunities as contract workers as plants go through maintenance and refueling outages, traveling around the country. Students placed after the program can often earn an apprenticeship paying $20 an hour and doubling that in a few years as a journeyman.
To learn more about the power plant program or other opportunities, visit fhtc.edu.