Meet William Irvin, Taft High School Class of 2017, who turned his career interests into a specialized trade as a power line clearance specialist in Alaska!

After graduation, William attended VOLTA (Vocational Outside Line Training Academy) in Warrenton, OR. He completed a two-year power line tree apprenticeship, which included monthly Saturday classes and climb labs. Today, he works for AK Tree Service in Alaska, maintaining power line right-of-ways for utility companies across the state.

“I’ve enjoyed the constant challenges my job presents,” William shares. “Every day is different – from work locations to the type of work, from climbing vs. bucket trucks to remote vs. city jobs, from routine maintenance to special projects and storm/power outages in the dark.”

His typical day includes planning and performing work safely near power lines while training apprentices – whether that’s felling, climbing, trimming, or chipping.

William’s advice for current students: “Recognize that attitude is everything and that we have control over our attitudes unlike our situations. Be a perpetual learner, open to advice and training. Step out of your box and become a people person, do quality work, and above all else, WORK HARD.”

Thanks William for sharing your story! Watch for more alumni spotlights coming soon!