Twenty-one graduate electric lineworker apprenticeship program

Twenty-one lineworkers graduated Saturday from Indiana Electric Cooperatives’ apprenticeship program, Rural Electric Apprentice Program (REAP).

REAP is a four-year program that professionally trains apprentice lineworkers from across Indiana. Graduates complete 612 hours of classroom-related study and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training at their electric cooperative. Students also complete four additional classes through Ivy Tech Community College. Upon completion of the program, graduates earn an Associate of Applied Science and a journeyman lineman certificate.

“Lineworkers are the backbone of our operations and their dedication to the consumers of Indiana’s electric cooperatives is outstanding.” said Jon Elkins, vice president of safety, training and compliance at Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “We are proud to have these hardworking individuals as part of the cooperative family.”

This year’s graduates are:

  • Derek Anderson, Carroll White REMC
  • Tyler Barrett, Carroll White REMC
  • Zac Bireley, Northeastern REMC
  • Jaylin Brown, Electricom
  • Anthony Buening, Electricom
  • Dathan Chastain, Electricom
  • Kolbie Cox, Miami-Cass REMC
  • Joel DuVall, Carroll White REMC
  • Colton Feller, LaGrange REMC
  • Austin Gearlds, NineStar Connect
  • Jason Hughes, Marshall County REMC
  • Cody Kindle, Kosciusko REMC
  • Cody Kirkpatrick, Noble REMC
  • Mike Klopfenstein, Noble REMC
  • Namon Meyers, Steuben County REMC
  • Benjamin Nelson, Electricom
  • Jay Novotny, Indiana Electric Cooperatives
  • Michael Peterson, LaGrange REMC
  • R. Joshua Salazar, Kosciusko REMC
  • Landon Stalling, Heartland REMC
  • David Wingler, Hendricks Power Cooperative