Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC), in partnership with Dominion Energy, proudly celebrates the success of a recent graduate whose journey is a testament to perseverance, lifelong learning, and the power of education.
In a heartfelt message of gratitude, Elbert Eanes expressed thanks to Dominion Energy and SVCC for the opportunity to complete the Power2Degree Program, as well as to his wife, Patricia, for her unwavering support throughout the process.
"Completing this program was not easy," he shared. "Both my wife and I work full-time and are raising two grandchildren. Taking online classes at night required patience, support, and commitment, but we made it happen."
Reflecting on the value of the program, he said, "I learned that you're never too old to learn. I was able to set an example for my grandchildren—showing them the importance of taking education seriously and always doing your best."
One of the key factors in his success was the flexibility of SVCC’s online courses. "They allowed me to keep up with my demanding work and life schedule," he said.
When asked if he would recommend the program to others, he answered without hesitation: "Most definitely. Education is something no one can ever take away from you."
Although the journey came with challenges, the sense of accomplishment made it all worthwhile. "Some days were harder than others, but I discovered a strength I didn’t know I had. I’ll always be thankful for this opportunity. Graduation day was amazing—my wife was right, I needed to experience it all."
As SVCC continues to strengthen its partnership with employers like Dominion Energy, stories like this one highlight the life-changing impact of accessible education and workforce training.
To learn more about SVCC’s Apprenticeship Programs, visit https://southside.edu/PI2-Degree or call 434-774-6312. Forty students have completed an Associate of Applied Science in Industrial Technology through Southside Virginia Community College's Power2Degree Program. Through Power2Degree a student may receive college credit for the hard work and training they have already completed in the power industry. In many cases, a power industry worker will only need to complete 10 to 12 online classes to complete the process.
