Building tomorrow’s energy workforce starts with reaching students early — sometimes even before they enter high school.
Student outreach helps young people picture themselves in energy careers by connecting classroom learning with real-world opportunities. By introducing students to roles that support a reliable electric grid — from lineworkers and engineers to communicators, technicians and environmental specialists — these programs spark curiosity, broaden awareness of career paths and help build the skilled workforce needed to power communities for years to come.
To help turn that early awareness into lasting interest, Great River Energy’s talent management and strategy team hosts summer outreach events that introduce students to careers in the energy industry.
“Student outreach programs are critical to building a strong pool of prospective candidates for future openings,” said Heather Bittle, talent and outreach partner at Great River Energy. “We want to connect with students early and spark their interest in careers in the electrical industry.”
In June, Operation Exploration, a hands-on career exploration and manufacturing camp organized by Central Minnesota Jobs & Training Services, Inc. in partnership with the Wright Technical Center located in Buffalo, Minnesota, brought a group of 16- to 24-year-old students to Great River Energy’s Elk River campus. The group learned about various electrical technician roles at Great River Energy, toured a substation, performed hands-on substation apparatus activities and rode in a bucket truck.
The Minnesota Society of Professional Surveyors Summer Land Survey Camp was hosted by Great River Energy in June. This free program for middle school and high school students introduces them to the dynamic world of land surveying. The one-day camp provided an immersive, project-based experience led by Great River Energy employees and Dunwoody College of Technology faculty.
In August, Great River Energy hosted Dunwoody College of Technology’s “Industry in Action” which gives students the opportunity to visit industry partners to learn about career opportunities. Great River Energy employees shared their insights on various jobs providing students with a general idea of what to expect in a professional role. Attendees represented Dunwoody programs spanning engineering, construction management, facilities management, electrical technology, land surveying, information technology and civil engineering technology.
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