VICKSBURG, Miss. — Vicksburg Warren School District students in the district’s Energy Academy program were recognized during a special awards ceremony celebrating student achievement, workforce development, and the growing partnership between education and industry leaders, including Entergy.
During the CTE Award Ceremony, 14 students were honored for successfully completing the Energy Academy curriculum, which prepares students for future careers in the energy and utility industries through hands-on learning, career exploration, and workforce readiness opportunities.
Dr. Sumesh Arora, program manager for workforce strategies at Entergy, spoke about the company’s continued investment in workforce development and the importance of creating pathways for students interested in the energy sector.
“Our role is really helping develop the next generation pipeline for the utility industry,” Arora said. “We work with K-12 schools, community colleges, universities and workforce partners to help students understand the opportunities available in the energy business.”
Arora explained that the Energy Academy was created through a collaborative effort between Entergy Mississippi, state leaders, and education partners to address workforce needs while exposing students to careers they may not have previously considered.
“A lot of students just aren’t aware of the career opportunities that exist in this space,” Arora said. “The goal is to give students a very tangible career path into the energy business.”
According to Arora, the energy industry extends far beyond lineworkers and includes careers in engineering, communications, customer service, accounting, marketing, business operations, and skilled trades.
“There’s a lot more behind it,” he said. “For every engineer, there are several technicians supporting those operations, and those are highly skilled, sophisticated positions that require training and long-term career development.”
Arora also highlighted the growth occurring across Mississippi and the Vicksburg area, including new developments such as the Amazon Data Center, which continues increasing the demand for energy infrastructure and workforce capacity.
“We have to build the capacity to provide electricity for these large facilities,” Arora said. “It takes people to generate electricity, transmit it, and maintain it throughout the community.”
As part of Entergy’s continued partnership with VWSD, Arora said the company hopes to remain engaged with students after completing the academy through internships, field experiences, facility tours and mentorship opportunities.
“We really want to stay connected with these students,” he said. “Education is the foundation, but we want to continue building from there through internships, field trips and industry exposure.”
Arora also introduced Entergy’s “Know Your Power Academy” initiative, which encourages students to discover both their personal strengths and the role utility companies play in supporting communities.
“When we say ‘Know Your Power,’ we want students to understand their own potential while also learning how power companies operate,” Arora said. “If students want to be part of sustaining communities and supporting the economy, then the utility industry is a great place to be.”
VWSD leaders said the Energy Academy continues providing students with meaningful opportunities to explore career pathways while strengthening partnerships between education and industry.
The district’s partnership with Entergy and higher education institutions, including Hinds Community College, allows students to continue pursuing certifications, technical training, and college opportunities after graduation.
The 14 students who were honored are as follows:
Vicksburg High School
1. Devon Banks
2. Casey Brown
3. Kaveon Claiborne
4. Evrick Dotson
5. Larmon Odom
6. Armond Trevillion, Jr.
7. George Washington, Jr.
Warren Central High School:
1. Jaxon Boyd
2. Tristan Collins
3. Justin Evans,
4. Jonathan Kenn
5. William Pownall
6. Brayden Sellers
7. Jonathan Williams, Jr.