High Plains Technology Center wind tech student Natalie Clements took her research very serious when she was looking for the best wind tech program in America, and her research led her to HPTC.

Clements moved to Woodward from Baltimore, Maryland, in December and began the 20-week program. She will graduate May 27 and start her first job as a wind tech May 31 at a wind farm in Colorado.

Clements said she chose HPTC over all the other training sites in the U.S. because of its range of certifications and the time it took to earn them.

Congratulations to Kristopher Tinoco, HPTC Wind Tech Student, for being selected as one of the scholarship recipients.

Check out this video of Kris visiting with AT&T's chief diversity officer Corey Anthony and Duke Energy's Joni Davis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7r3-1f7s6I

Duke Energy Renewables, through the Duke Energy Foundation, and AT&T announced $20,000 in student scholarships to High Plains Technology Center in Woodward, Okla., for students interested in pursuing wind turbine technology careers. The Duke Energy Foundation awarded $10,000 to establish the Duke Energy Renewables Wind Energy Scholarship and AT&T contributed $10,000 as part of AT&T’s Renewable Energy Scholarship program. The mission of both programs is to establish a more diverse renewable energy workforce and create pathways to sustainable careers, especially among women and people of color.

When wind comes sweeping down the plains these days, it brings great opportunities for people like John Munoz and Jerry Dominguez, students ready to graduate from a wind energy training program at High Plains Technology Center in Woodward. It might be said that the future of wind as an energy source - or at least its future in Oklahoma and in a broader region including Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Kansas - arrives first in Woodward.

Meet Jack Day, wind technology instructor at High Plains Technology Center in Woodward, Oklahoma. Day’s interview appears as part of a spotlight series on ACTE’s educational institution members (EIM).

High Plains Technology Center High Plains Technology Center operates as part of a network of 29 career technology centers across the state of Oklahoma. High Plains trains individuals for success in the workplace. A wide variety of course offerings make career education possible for students from all walks of life: career training, professional and personal interest, online classes and business solutions.

Bonnie recently received the WRISE (Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy) "2020 Wind at Our Backs Scholarship!" Wind at our Backs is a new scholarship program for women in or graduating from degree and training programs for wind technicians. This scholarship which provides a tuition stipend, focuses on furthering the education of women in wind energy and is designed to help diversify the wind energy workforce and provide greater opportunities for women in the field. The scholarship is awarded on a competitive basis and selection is based on commitment to renewable energy development, academic achievement, potential for future contributions to the U.S. renewable energy community, and financial need.

We proudly present to you the graduates of our most recent Wind Tech Program!! These students are graduating after only 20 weeks with 21 certifications!

Oklahoma has vast energy resources, and opportunities are growing to support the clean power industry.

High Plains Technology Center (HPTC) started its wind tech program 12 years ago, with an eye toward training workers for all of Oklahoma’s energy careers. “A lot has changed since then,” says Taylor Burnett, Asst. Superintendent of the school. “The program started out small, but wind is booming now.”

Burnett says the Advanced Wind Technician Certification Program at High Plains typically enrolls between 12-14 students in a course, with two 20-week courses occurring each year.