ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Wednesday, 55 students from the Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District (ISD) explored potential careers in the trades.
The group visited North Country Electrical Line and Heavy Equipment School and Midwest Truck Driving School for a day of hands-on learning. Midwest Truck Driving instructors took students inside the trucks to see what it’s like behind the wheel.
North Country students took the high schoolers to their respective training areas. Line School students guided them through climbing poles and grounding lines, while Heavy Equipment School students taught them how to operate machinery on a construction site.
Instructor Kyle Montgomery, a journeyman lineman, says the day showed ISD students several career paths they can take after high school.
“When I was in school, they pushed college,” said Montgomery. “With trades, you can go into a four-year apprenticeship, start making money, start out life debt-free if you want. It’s good money, good benefits. That’s what we want out of life, work hard, retire early, and live a good life.”
Dominic Tanguay said those benefits are what led him to apply for North Country Electrical Line School.
“Making good money is definitely one of the reasons why I decided to become a lineman,” he said. “It’s a very rewarding career. I love everything I learn and I can’t wait to better myself.”
“It just gets to show you the trade a lot,” added fellow North Country student Kurt Bissell. “In high school, there wasn’t a whole lot, so it just gives you a taste of the trade.”
For more information on career training opportunities through Midwest and North Country Schools, visit midwesttruckdrivingschool.com or ncheschool.com.
