JENKINSVILLE — In celebration of Nuclear Science Week, SCE&G put a spotlight on nuclear careers with student tours of V.C. Summer Units 2 and 3 and the North American Young Generation in Nuclear High School Blitz.

About 200 students from eight Midlands area schools visited V.C. Summer between Oct. 18 and Oct. 21, which is a national celebration of the nuclear industry. Students learned how nuclear plants operate and heard about education programs that can help them toward a career in the nuclear industry.

“I enjoy learning everything I can about science,” said Zakkery Davenport, a sophomore at Newberry High School. “This might be helpful for my future career because I wish to be an astrophysicist.”

During the visit, students toured the V.C. Summer Units 2 and 3 construction site to see what goes into building these first-of-a-kind AP1000 nuclear power stations.

“I’d heard so much about it, and I wanted to come see for myself what it’s like,” said Lydia Nicolle Kinard, a junior at Newberry High School. “So I’m really excited to go back with so much knowledge about what takes place here.”

Afterward, they visited the control room simulators to observe some of the rigorous training nuclear operators continuously undergo to maintain their qualifications to run these types of facilities.

For some students who are still exploring potential career paths, the experience was eye opening.

“Actually, I didn’t even think about doing this at all,” said Kinard. “And then I looked at it like, oh my gosh, maybe that’s something I would like to be a part of.”

NAYGN also sponsored their third-annual High School Blitz with 46 volunteers reaching about 3,800 students across 21 Midlands high schools. Volunteers explained how nuclear is important to South Carolina’s clean energy future and how students can be part of it.

For some volunteers it was an opportunity to return to their high school and share their experience with a new generation.

“It actually makes me feel awesome in two ways,” said Kisha Chaplin, who works in Operational Readiness at V.C. Summer. “One, that I can make a difference in the lives of the students that are here and two, that they can probably see a difference because it is an alumni. It is a person who walked the same halls that they walked.”

SCE&G’s support of Nuclear Science Week and the High School Blitz provide a unique opportunity for students interested in science, technology, engineering, and math programs to see firsthand some of the careers available in South Carolina.

Mid-Carolina High School students visit the control room simulators to observe some of the rigorous training nuclear operators continuously undergo to maintain their qualifications to run these types of facilities.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_MCHS-Sim.jpgMid-Carolina High School students visit the control room simulators to observe some of the rigorous training nuclear operators continuously undergo to maintain their qualifications to run these types of facilities. Courtesy photos

Newberry High School sent a group of students to V.C. Summer between Oct. 18 and Oct. 21, which is a national celebration of the nuclear industry. Students learned how nuclear plants operate and heard about education programs that can help them toward a career in the nuclear industry.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_Newberry-HS-2.jpgNewberry High School sent a group of students to V.C. Summer between Oct. 18 and Oct. 21, which is a national celebration of the nuclear industry. Students learned how nuclear plants operate and heard about education programs that can help them toward a career in the nuclear industry. Courtesy photos

This was another group of Mid-Carolina High School students who visited the V.C. Summer site in Jenkinsville.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_MCHS-2.jpgThis was another group of Mid-Carolina High School students who visited the V.C. Summer site in Jenkinsville. Courtesy photos

Newberry High School students paused for a photo in front of the V.C. Summer Nuclear Learning Center.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_NHS-NLC.jpgNewberry High School students paused for a photo in front of the V.C. Summer Nuclear Learning Center. Courtesy photos

Mid-Carolina High School sent this group of students to V.C. Summer.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_MCHS-3.jpgMid-Carolina High School sent this group of students to V.C. Summer. Courtesy photos

This was another group of Mid-Carolina High School students who visited the V.C. Summer site in Jenkinsville.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_MCHS-1.jpgThis was another group of Mid-Carolina High School students who visited the V.C. Summer site in Jenkinsville. Courtesy photos

Mid-Carolina students shown in a control room simulator.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_MCHS-AP1000-Sim-2.jpgMid-Carolina students shown in a control room simulator. Courtesy photos

About 200 students from eight Midlands area schools visited V.C. Summer between Oct. 18 and Oct. 21, which is a national celebration of the nuclear industry. Students learned how nuclear plants operate and heard about education programs that can help them toward a career in the nuclear industry.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_MCHS-AP1000-Sim.jpgAbout 200 students from eight Midlands area schools visited V.C. Summer between Oct. 18 and Oct. 21, which is a national celebration of the nuclear industry. Students learned how nuclear plants operate and heard about education programs that can help them toward a career in the nuclear industry. Courtesy photos

This was another group of Newberry High School students who visited the V.C. Summer site in Jenkinsville.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_Newberry-HS.jpgThis was another group of Newberry High School students who visited the V.C. Summer site in Jenkinsville. Courtesy photos

Staff Report