News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SVCC Student Earns Prestigious 2025 Mike Rowe Work Ethic Scholarship to Pursue Career in Power Line Industry
Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) is proud to announce that Bryce Dennison of Stuarts Draft, a student in the Power Line Worker Training Program, has been awarded the highly competitive 2025 Mike Rowe Work Ethic Scholarship. This prestigious national award recognizes individuals who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to hard work, personal responsibility, and a strong work ethic; the values at the heart of the Mike Rowe WORKS Foundation.
Earning the scholarship was no easy feat. Thousands of applicants from across the nation apply each year, and only a select few are chosen. The process is known for its rigor, requiring essays, references, transcripts, and video submissions that reflect the applicant’s values and dedication to their chosen trade.
For Dennison, the recognition goes beyond financial support, it affirms his calling to pursue a career where he can directly help others. “I’ve always been called to help people,” Dennison said, noting his volunteer work with Tim Tebow’s Night to Shine, a prom experience for individuals with disabilities, and his participation in cancer fundraising efforts in honor of loved ones lost to the disease.
Dennison’s journey to SVCC began with a visit. He initially had plans to attend another program until he and his father attended an Open House at SVCC’s Power Line Worker Training Program in Blackstone. “As soon as I saw it, I knew this was the right place for me,” he said. “The program has pushed me, kept me in shape, and helped me grow. The teachers are great and the experience has been exactly what I needed.”
He first heard about the Power Line program from a friend and it immediately sparked his interest. Around the same time, his mother, an avid fan of Mike Rowe’s show Dirty Jobs, discovered the Work Ethic Scholarship and encouraged him to apply. The application process was extensive, but it offered unexpected rewards. “It really made me think and step out of my comfort zone,” Dennison said. “Recording videos and sharing my story was challenging, but it was worth it. I walked away with so much more than just a scholarship.”
Dennison recalls one of his proudest moments during training at SVCC’s Occupational Technical Center: “I remember being at the top of a pole with my CDL in my pocket and realizing how far I’d come. This program has prepared me to provide for my family and to do something meaningful.”
Set to graduate later this month, Dennison has already secured a position with Elliot Company, Inc. where he will continue building a career that challenges him physically and mentally and allows him to give back to his community.
If you are interested in pursuing a career that is meaningful, visit our Power Line Worker webpage, or contact Suzanne Shook, 434-292-3101 or by email suzanne.shook@southside.edu.
