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JCP&L Giving Scholarships To Train Future Line Workers

JCP&L is specifically looking for African-American, mixed race, Native American, Asian, Hispanic or female candidates, the company says.

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — Get paid to keep people's lights on! Ever thought about becoming an electric utility worker?

JCP&L, the area's electric provider, is awarding scholarships to local Monmouth County men and women as part of their training of future electric line and substation workers.

The scholarship money will specifically go to people who reside in FirstEnergy's service area and "is offered to diverse students who traditionally have been underrepresented in the skilled craft trades, including Black or African American, Native American or Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, people of two or more races; Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and female candidates," said FirstEnergy.

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The money is given out through the Power Systems Institute program of FirstEnergy. FirstEnergy will give up to 50 scholarships across the six states they serve in the U.S.

FirstEnergy originally introduced the program in 2000 to help replace retiring line and substation workers. The PSI program combines classroom learning with hands-on training. For qualified students, FirstEnergy pays tuition, required books and lab fees.

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The scholarship will also provide $1,000 per month, not to exceed $21,000, over the duration of the program. The money can be used to offset housing, transportation and other living expenses.

The PSI program lasts for 21 months and those who graduate will receive an associate's degree of technical studies with a focus on electric utility technology.

For more information or to apply, please call 1-800-829-6801 or visit www.firstenergycorp.com/psi.

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