Gov. Dave Heineman signed a document earlier this month proclaiming the week of Oct. 13-19 as Careers In Energy Week.

Heineman signed the proclamation at the Capitol.

John Pierce, chair of Southeast Community College’s Energy Generation Operations program, as well as students in the program, attended the signing ceremony. Also present were representatives from a variety of energy partners.

The designation is sponsored by the Center for Energy Workforce Development, which is an industry-sponsored association of energy businesses who collaborate to train workers in the energy sector of the economy.

“The energy sector workforce is slated to lose more than half of its workforce to retirements in the next five years,” Pierce said. “This represents an enormous opportunity for workers to enter this very lucrative and stable industry, which makes our electricity and fuels our transportation fleet.

“SCC’s Energy Generation Operations program, along with other supporting programs, help fill these positions with some of the highest paying careers in our economy with only an 18-month education commitment.”

Program students in attendance were Kayla Kollars, Will Jones and Trevor Smets.

Persons interested in more information about SCC’s Energy Generation Operations program are asked to contact Pierce at 402-761-8394 or at [email protected].