Design Electric And Square D Donate Materials To Electrical Programs
Design Electric and Square D by Schneider Electric have generously donated electrical equipment to Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center’s (CATEC) Electrical programs. The donations will allow CATEC’s Adult Education and High School Electrical programs to perform more hands-on activities.
Help Meet Programming Needs
CATEC’s original building design was not meeting current programming needs. However, the new equipment will allow CATEC to increase building power, making it feasible to add more HVAC units and electrical stations to classrooms for student use.
Design Electric donated a transformer, panel, disconnect, conduit, wire, fittings, mounting hardware, and installation materials. Design Electric is a growing electrical contractor specializing in large projects in central and western Virginia. It recently employed four CATEC High School Building Trades and Electrical students to work as Youth Registered Apprentices. These apprentices work for Design Electric, gaining real-world work experience while getting high school credit. Design Electric’s Casey Carwile says they donated the materials because “we are committed to hands-on electrical education in the area for apprentices and students who want to make a career of the electrical trade.” Square D by Schneider Electrical donated QO panel boards, interiors and trim, and breakers. Square D by Schneider Electrical is a national producer of electrical components including switchgear, breakers, transformers, and control systems.
Training a New Generation of Electrical Workers
CATEC’s Electrical programs provide students with skills to install, operate, maintain, and repair residential, commercial, and industrial electrical systems. Students study electrical theory and navigate the National Electrical Code Book. Adult Apprenticeship Electrical students take coursework related to alternating current and grounding, load calculations and distribution, and practical applications and basic electronic theory. High School Electrical students receive 9 college credits from Piedmont Virginia Community College. Students in the Electrical program are OSHA-10 certified and receive certifications in NCCER curriculum.
Design Electric’s Carwile is thankful for all CATEC is doing to bring electrical workers into the workforce. He says “thanks for all that you are doing at CATEC to teach the next generation of workers. Thanks again also for the chance you have given us to assist with the electrical learning process.”