Seventeen lineworkers including Braden Nichols from Steuben County REMC graduated Saturday, Jan. 25, from Indiana Electric Cooperatives’ Rural Electric Apprenticeship Program (REAP).

REAP is a four-year program that professionally trains apprentice lineworkers from across Indiana. Graduates complete 576 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 degree 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.”