Aspiring electrician develops skills at South Plains College

LEVELLAND – Like most college students, Chloe Johnson has multiple interests that vie for her attention. She currently furthers her passion for interior design at Texas Tech University but aims to fulfill her true career goals in South Plains College’s electrician program.

Becoming a lineworker is a goal Johnson intends to accomplish via SPC’s electrician and power transmission technology program. In addition to pursuing an associate degree in electrical utility specialization, she is attending Texas Tech to obtain an interior design degree. However, electrical work will be the focus of her career.

“With the way my brain works, I just want to be outside and hands-on,” she said. “Electrical work just clicks for me.”

Johnson’s time in Texas started about four years ago after she moved from her hometown of Huntington Beach, California, to attend Northeast Texas Community College. After a few years at the college, she said she started her interior design education at Texas Tech but wanted to try working in another industry.

“When I get into the workforce, I want a hands-on job,” she said regarding why she started SPC’s electrician program in Fall 2024.

Interior design is a lifelong hobby that Johnson said she will continue pursuing while she works on powerlines. Before starting the trade, she said she wanted to gain more knowledge, and SPC piqued her interest.

“I looked up SPC’s electrician program online and thought this is what I want to do,” she said.

During her first day in the program, Johnson said she was concerned about making mistakes and progressing in the field. As her first semester continued, her perspective changed.

“At SPC, they have such a supportive group,” she said. “How can you do wrong when everyone there is helping you out and supporting you?”

The professors in the program have supported Johnson in various ways. She said she has received a lot of encouragement from SPC instructors Mike Henry and Leonard Johnson.

“The professors made sure the standard they held me to was equal to everyone sitting next me in the lecture room,” she said. “It was very encouraging.”

From changing crossarms to fixing wiring, Johnson said multiple line

worker skills were challenging to learn. She said it was helpful to watch her classmates complete a difficult task and learn from their efforts.

“You need everyone for this line of work,” she said regarding the teamwork aspect of the field.

For those interested in being an electrician, Johnson said it is understandable to be nervous about the assignments. The students who are dedicated to the industry and willing to learn are the ones she said will succeed in the profession.

Considering her love for hands-on work and being outside, Johnson said facing the challenges in the program is worth it.

“I’d rather be outside getting my hands dirty than sitting in a lecture room taking notes,” she said. “Being hands-on is the way I learn.”

 

Electrician and Power Transmission Technology

SPC’s electrician and power transmission technology program provides the skills needed for the ever-changing field. The two-year technical program is designed to prepare qualified graduates for entry-level jobs with electrical utility or commercial electrical companies. For people currently employed in the field, the program also provides opportunities to update skills in the discipline.

Qualified graduates may receive an associate of applied science degree or an optional certificate of proficiency. The program provides excellent hands-on training in modern facilities, and instructors have extensive firsthand experience and knowledge of the electrical industry. An advisory committee of industry experts meets regularly to review the program and align it with industry and employment trends.