A GENEROUS DONATION:From Left to Right- Brandon Norris, Jerome Mollins, Julian Brown, Neil Mayer, Bryson Yarley, Antonio Hardy.

CAIRO- The City of Cairo recently donated a digger derrick truck for use by the Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) Electrical Lineworker program. The one-semester certificate program provides students with the requisite knowledge and skills to gain employment as entry-level lineworkers with public and private electrical utility companies.

As the Electrical Lineworker program is housed at SRTC’s Cairo campus, the City of Cairo has been involved in its progress since its inception. Last year, members of Cairo’s electrical crew brought out a bucket truck and a pole truck to demonstrate safe and correct operation of the equipment for the students. Cairo’s City Manager Julian Brown said that the City recognizes the growing program’s equipment needs and elected to donate the Freightliner FL70 rather than simply retire it.

“We could have sold it, but it was better for the community to donate it for the students’ training purposes.” Brown said that the partnership between Cairo and SRTC is mutually beneficial. “With this campus being located here in Cairo, the lineworkers who are trained here will become excellent candidates for positions with the City.”

Supplementing the City’s contribution, Alan Wells of Cairo Auto Supply donated hydraulic lines and couplings for the truck’s tamper. Because the outfitted truck is comparable to equipment that utility companies use in the field, it provides student with the hands-on experience necessary to become confident and safe lineworkers. Electrical Lineworker instructor Neil Mayer said that he has already begun using the truck in his classes.

“Our students are learning how to set poles and hang transformers, among other skills,” he said. “This truck provides students with real world experience using the kind of equipment that utility departments use every day.”

The SRTC Foundation managed the City of Cairo’s tax-deductible in-kind gift. For information on making a donation to SRTC or one of its programs, visit online: https://southernregional.edu/foundation-giving.