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Education

Workforce of the future

We believe in our youth - they are the workforce of the future.

Basin Electric supports multiple programs to encourage young people through continued education and development through hands-on experience. We also donate scholarships to children of employees and members who have worked hard throughout their school careers. This support covers a wide range of programs including:

• The Story Behind the Switch
• Electric Technologies
• Summer work program
• Employee and member student scholarships
• Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
• Bismarck State College's National Energy Center of Excellence

Summer work program

Basin Electric and its subsidiaries hire sons and daughters of employees through the Summer Work Program. This gives them an opportunity to earn money for their college expenses while gaining work experience.

Employee and member student scholarships

As part of our scholarship program Basin Electric donates more than 160 scholarships to children of Basin Electric members and employees. Recipients are chosen for their participation in school and community acitivites, academic excellence, work experience and career goals.

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

From the time children enter kindergarten to graduation from school, this question follows them into adulthood. Basin Electric helps kids explore one option for a future career by participating in the national annual "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day" at Headquarters. The goal of the program is to expand future opportunities for young people, ages 9-14, and to help them make connections between what they are taught in school and their future aspirations.

Bismarck State College's National Energy Center of Excellence

Basin Electric is the first major contributor to a capital campaign by Bismarck (ND) State College (BSC) for a Career and Technology Institute. At a press conference held June 30, 2003, Ron Harper, Basin Electric CEO and general manager, presented Dr. Donna Thigpen, BSC president, with a $2 million check, the lead gift in the BSC Foundation's fund-raising campaign.

As the first donor to pledge $2 million at the beginning of the capital campaign, Basin Electric was given the opportunity to name the building - The National Energy Center of Excellence.

Construction of the 70,000-square-foot Career and Technology Institute will allow BSC to expand its workforce training, energy programs and higher education offerings. The facility will house a National Energy Technology Training and Education Center, Workforce Training Center, and Higher Education Center.

The first portion of the $2 million donation was paid in 2003. The final payment will be made in 2012.

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• Education
• Story Behind the Switch
• Glossary

The Story Behind the Switch

Emily McKay, demonstration coordinator, travels to schools teaching students about electrical safety.

The importance of education

SDREA received a national community service award at NRECA's annual meeting for their Kids Voting South Dakota program. From left: Glenn English, Ron Harper, Dan Hutt, Mark Hofer, Audry Ricketts, Jeff Nelson and Ron Bergh.

Energy Center of Excellence

Basin Electric donates $2 million to Career and Technology Institute.