Some fairytales don't involve love. Take, for instance, academia and careers. A student picks a major, selects a school and enrolls in the program. Along comes a great employer that offers an internship. After hard work, the student lands a job with the employer who also happens to provide 50 percent tuition reimbursement.
 
Sounds like a fairytale? Not really. Right now, Basin Electric and Bismarck State College (BSC) are living out that scenario through a new partnership called the "Grow Your Own" Program.
 
Facing a significant amount of retirements in the next five to 10 years, Basin Electric knew it was time to take its recruiting efforts to the next level. The cooperative looked no further than its already-thriving relationship with Bismarck State College.
 
"Basin Electric and BSC have a longstanding relationship - much of which is centered on the college's highly reputable Power Plant Technology program," says Ron Harper, Basin Electric CEO and general manager. "With base-load power plants in North Dakota and Wyoming, many BSC graduates take root at Basin Electric facilities."
 
Today, that relationship continues to flourish. Starting this fall, students who enroll in the Power Plant Technology Associate Degree program will have the opportunity to apply for internships at Basin Electric's three power plants. Upon completion of the internships and the program, students may be offered a laborer position. If offered a full-time position, 50 percent tuition will be reimbursed according to established guidelines.
 
"We are offering up to five students an opportunity to complete their job shadowing requirements plus an 80-hour internship at each of our facilities," says Sharon Klein, Basin Electric manager of human resources. "This program allows students and Basin Electric the opportunity to see if we're a good fit for each other. It also allows us access to top students and reduces training time and recruitment costs, should we bring the interns on full-time."
 
Upon hire, graduates will receive 15 percent reimbursement. After completing one year of employment, they'll receive another 15 percent, and after two years, they'll receive 20 percent, for a total of 50 percent.
 
"We are excited that Basin Electric is offering this wonderful opportunity to our Power Plant Program students," says Kari Knudson, Bismarck State College vice president of energy technology programs and director of the National Energy Center of Excellence. "This is an excellent example of collaboration between industry and education to provide a direct benefit to students."   
 
Hiring Bismarck State College graduates has been a longstanding tradition of Basin Electric. "During the past five years, Basin Electric and Dakota Gasification Company had 281 openings at our facilities with educational requirements of a two year degree or less. Of these 281 openings, we hired 166 BSC grads. That's 59 percent," Klein says.
 
In 2003, Basin Electric strengthened its relationship with BSC by pledging $2 million toward the college's National Energy Center of Excellence, further ensuring a legacy of hiring highly educated students. Construction of the center is near completion. It will include state-of-the-art equipment, which will provide energy students with relevant hands on experience
 
"Basin Electric has provided tremendous support to Bismarck State College and continues to be a valued partner," says Dr. Larry C. Skogen, Bismarck State College president.
 
Harper adds, "Bismarck State College is truly a national leader, and we're honored to partner with the college in these endeavors. This is just another example of how two entities can come together and make great things happen."