Powering the future
Keep an eye out. The Hanford Site has seen a surge in the population of cougars and hawks … and it’s all thanks to the Central Plateau Cleanup Company (CPCCo) cooperative education (co-op) program.
The co-op program is established between CPCCo and local higher education institutions, Washington State University Tri-Cities (WSU-TC) and Columbia Basin College (CBC), to provide unique employment opportunities for full-time students – Cougs, Hawks or otherwise. With hands-on training and one-on-one mentorship from seasoned professionals, the co-op provides the skills and experience needed to pave the way toward a successful career at CPCCo and within the nuclear industry.
“The co-op program is such a great opportunity for students to bridge the gap between education and real-world experience in their field of study,” said Jamie Hafer, Field Services Manager in Human Capital. “For example, a co-op engineer will have the chance to demonstrate their skills and education as it relates to engineering responsibilities here on the Hanford Site.”
It's a competitive and rewarding program. Co-op students must be enrolled full-time in a related degree program at WSU-TC, CBC, or living locally while attending an online school. Students work between 20 to 32 hours per week during the academic year with a full-time schedule during the summer months with more challenging responsibilities. To be considered for post-graduate employment opportunities, a minimum overall grade point average of 2.5 must be maintained.
Alexis Solorio met these qualifications and participated in the program while earning her bachelor’s degree in project management at CBC. She split her time as a co-op between scheduling and core functions before becoming a full-time employee as a project controls associate in Core Functions.
“That’s what’s awesome about being a co-op, you have the opportunity to transition into different groups at CPCCo,” Solorio said. “I am so grateful for the experience of working with two different groups. I learned so much.”
In addition to gaining practical experience and academic credit, students in the program also network with professionals at CPCCo and build valuable connections that can help them in their careers.
“You’re meeting so many different people with different backgrounds and it gives you more insight to what you would like to do for your career,” Solorio added.
But the co-op program goes beyond offering students a chance to explore their careers; it also presents CPCCo cost-effective solutions to complete specials projects while introducing diverse perspectives, people and ideas. Additionally, the program acts as a channel for skilled workers to enter the nuclear industry. Early engagement with students enables CPCCo to identify and develop potential employees, assuring sufficient skilled workers to support the Hanford Site's cleanup mission into the future.
“Our collaboration with CBC and WSU Tri-Cities is just one more tool to continue building workforce development here at CPCCo,” said President John Eschenberg. “This forward-thinking approach sets CPCCo on the right course to cultivate the next generation of nuclear workers who will continue to advance our cleanup mission.”