John has been working in the utility industry for over a decade. Naturally, during his tenure John has amassed a significant amount of expertise in the field. However, in 2002 he decided that he wanted to augment his on-the-job knowledge with a more formal education. "I knew I could easily handle the technical responsibilities of my position but wanted to improve myself with continuing knowledge about the electrical industry that would not only benefit me, but also the Cooperative."

Luckily, Springer Electric is a member of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). It was through this affiliation that John learned about the EPCE online programs. According to John, "EPCE and its educational provider, Bismarck State College (BSC) are NRECA endorsed educational providers. This was particularly important to me as I searched for degree programs that would be high-quality and industry-specific."

After roughly 4 ½ years in the program, John graduated with his AAS degree. John maintains that earning his degree was a challenge. "It was critical to my success that I maintained structure and discipline. Online learning requires significant personal responsibility. However, in the end all that hard work is worth it. If you are willing to put forth the effort, you will reap the reward."

Since graduating, John has been promoted. He asserts that the support of his employer and his family were instrumental to his success and that he utilizes elements from his education on a regular basis. He is currently taking a break from his educational pursuits but is considering enrolling in the EPCE-sponsored BSAST degree in Energy Utility Technology from Thomas Edison State College.