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Wicomico High Students Look Inside a Career at Delmarva Power

As the energy industry evolves and older employees continue to retire, building a skilled workforce to meet customers’ future energy needs remains a challenge across the industry. Employees from Delmarva Power are stepping up to meet this challenge. Working with community partners, our employees are giving local high school students the opportunity to see what a career looks like in the energy industry and laying the foundation for the next generation of energy professionals on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Recently, a team of employees hosted 80 students from Wicomico High School at our facility in Salisbury, Md. During the event, students experienced an electrical safety and live wire demonstration, where they learned the importance of wire safety and how their homes and local businesses are powered. Students also were immersed in the life of a customer service representative, seeing how they work and learning the importance of soft skills in a customer service focused role. Participating students also heard from various leaders about how their school work relates to future employment—both in and outside of the energy industry.

“This was a great opportunity for us to share insight into how we hire, train, and prepare our employees for success in the energy industry,” said Karen Stanford, Talent Acquisition manager for Pepco Holdings, which includes Delmarva Power.

Students who participated are part of the Next Generation Scholars program, which is designed to offer essential college career ready services to students who qualify for the Maryland Guaranteed Access Grant. The program helps 10th graders determine career interests and create awareness of how high school preparation, college course work, and career goals connect. The program also exposes students to career pathways through workforce volunteer learning engagements and opportunities.

“We believe youth are the future of our growing workforce,” said Felecia Greer, Customer Advocate director for Pepco Holdings. “Organizing events, like the one we held in Salisbury, are important to our continued growth as a leading energy provider. We believe it’s these types of opportunities that give youth the ability to explore various professions and discover the industry that works best with their interests.”