Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association (PRVEPA) donated a trencher to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Apprentice Electric Lineman program at the George County Center on November 11. The trencher will allow instructors to provide hands-on training that they would not normally get without equipment like this to use as training tools.

Serving as a vital addition to the program’s training resources, the equipment will help students gain practical experience while learning to operate heavy machinery safely and efficiently.

“This donation allows us to provide students with the most realistic training environment possible,” said Will Overstreet, Academic Dean at MGCCC’s George County Center. “By working with the same equipment they’ll use on the job, our students can develop the confidence and technical skills they need to enter the workforce ready to succeed.”

The trencher’s addition brings several key benefits to the program:

• Hands-On Training with Real Equipment– Students can gain direct experience operating a trencher, better preparing them for fieldwork.
• Enhanced Safety Skills– Training with actual industry equipment allows instructors to emphasize safety protocols that align with real-world job conditions.
• Expanded Curriculum– The new equipment enables instructors to incorporate more comprehensive lessons on underground line installation and maintenance.
• Cost Savings for the Program– The donation reduces the need for rented or borrowed equipment, allowing more resources to go toward student learning and program growth.
• Improved Job Readiness– Graduates will leave the program better equipped to meet industry expectations and employer standards.

The partnership between PRVEPA and MGCCC ensures that students in the lineman program have the tools and training necessary to thrive in Mississippi’s growing utility sector.