George’s main focus, as a previous director of acquisitions and development, was to find new areas for uranium mining—i.e., “working the front end“ of the nuclear process. In this position he attended many conferences, which increased his interest in nuclear power.

Having also lived in France for a year, George saw firsthand how a country could predominantly be powered with nuclear energy. “The nuclear fleet in the United States is old. I want to be a part of an initiative that increases nuclear power here in our country,“ he said.

With a degree in history under his belt, George enrolled in the EPCE-sponsored program at Bismarck State College (BSC). For George, this program was a lot better than previous online classes. “With six-week classes, I was able to keep the information fresher in my mind instead of being spread across a 16-week semester.“ He also found it advantageous to learn from professors with real-world experience.

Because of the slowing of the economy, George’s position was suspended, but he was able to find another job and continue his schooling. After completing his Associate’s degree in Nuclear Power Technology, he enrolled in the Bachelor's of Energy Management program at BSC.

George plans to move to South Carolina with his girlfriend next year, and he's starting to look for positions and researching his options. “I want to go from the bottom up,“ he explained. “By starting in an entry-level position, I will get the hands-on knowledge to complement my degree.“