Knowing what is important...

The children and teens throughout our service area are very important. Dawson PPD is committed to teaching electrical safety and making sure they become tomorrow's informed consumers. We do it through several programs and partnerships.

Safety education

Dawson PPD offers safety education demonstrations and materials to the public free of charge. Power line safety is our priority but we also encourage electrical safety within the home, school and workplace. Dawson has a large, trailer-mounted demonstration power line that can be used for groups of 30 or more, in an appropriate area. A table-top home safety demonstration can be arranged for children ages 5 - 10.

Energy education for teachers and students

There is energy all around us. Dawson PPD has teamed up with Nebraska Public Power District's effort to educate teachers and students through the National Energy Education Development project. NEED teaches about electricity, fossil fuels and biomass projects. It also uses experiments to show light, sound, thermal, kinetic and potential energies. NEED is a cross-curricular study that incorporates science, math, language skills and the arts. Teacher's within Dawson's boundaries can borrow learning kits for students K-12, free of charge.

Power Drive... the fast track to success!

Power Drive is a program that promotes skill and knowledge in high school students to design, build and compete with small electric vehicles. Dawson PPD partners with NPPD and Omaha Public Power District to help teams get on the road. Several local schools have received funding from Dawson PPD to help establish their team and start a tradition at their school.

Youth Energy Camp & Youth Tour

Leadership, learning and fun are planned each year at Youth Energy Camp. Dawson sponsors up to three teens at the camp hosted by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association at the Nebraska State 4-H Camp near Halsey. Participants in the camp are eligible to compete to represent Dawson PPD at the National Rural Electric Association's Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. the following summer.

Internships

We have a long history of hosting interns who learn more about the District and careers while they work. Utility line workers, engineering students and teens in high school have all completed internships. Dawson also hosts students who want to shadow a professional in their career field for a day.

Scholarships

Dawson Public Power District offers up to $1,000 in a scholarship to a student who attends an accredited utility line school. It is available to people living within the district or in Kearney, North Platte, Gothenburg, Cozad, Lexington, Elm Creek or Ravenna. The scholarship is awarded in the spring. For more information, contact Kerry Teetor.

The high voltage safety demonstration uses a powerline energized to 7,200 volts to teach electrical safety. The trailer mounted equipment is used for large groups where the power supply is adequate and we can ensure the public's safety during the demonstration.