• Madsen, WWCC, Lower Valley Energy honored in State of the State

A Star Valley High School graduate was among those honored in Governor Gordon’s State of the State speech at the beginning of the 2024 Wyoming Legislative session.

Owen Madsen, a 2022 SVHS graduate, went on to Western Wyoming College on a Lower Valley Energy scholarship to study in a lineman program the school and state has designed to produce trained employees for the state’s power system.

“Wyoming is brimming with economic promise, and we must greet opportunity when it knocks with a well-trained and prepared workforce. That is what the Wyoming Innovation Partnership or WIP is all about,” the Governor explained to a crowded Legislative chamber and those watching on live stream across the state Feb. 12.

“You will remember we set a goal two years ago that Wyoming would establish a world-class approach to fostering a highly skilled, ambitious, and qualified workforce. The plan called for linking the state’s economic strategy with community goals and then engaging our university and community colleges to provide the muscle for economic growth. It has taken a while to align, but WIP is now yielding results,” the governor pointed out. “One example WIP helped launch is the new Powerline Technology program at Western Wyoming Community College. After an initial investment by WIP, it is now self-sustaining.”

Lower Valley Energy became involved in the program and one of their early students included Madsen.  He reflected on his enrollment. “Coming out of high school I got a scholarship from Lower Valley Energy to go to the program at Western,” he said. “It had just started. It’s a super cool program, it really pushed me out of my comfort zone. It’s a distribution power line program. It’s a year-long program and then I finished my associates. During that time, I got hired on by Lower Valley and I have been working there since.”

Madsen is a groundman now, as he works his way into an apprenticeship program and then he hopes to finish as a fully trained lineman. “I loved every bit of it,” he summarized in an interview with SVI Media in the House Chambers of the Wyoming Capitol, following the governor’s speech.

In that speech, the governor offered the following comments about Madsen and WIP. “Owen Madsen grew up here in Wyoming, he loves the state, and has the ambition we value. He saw how Wyoming is powering the nation and understood what it would take to modernize and expand the grid. Like other young Wyoming men and women, he recognized an opportunity and seized it. Now he is a WIP program graduate who is still living in Wyoming working in the energy industry.”

While speaking about Madsen the Governor pointed to him, seated in the House Gallery, and asked him to stand and be recognized.

“Owen, we know you have a risky job. You and your colleagues work in all types of conditions to  bring power to the people and industries of America. You literally help keep the lights on and make sure businesses have access to affordable power,” the governor said. “Owen, on behalf of WIP students across Wyoming and your hard-working colleagues, please stand and be recognized.” Both the House and the Senate stood and gave Madsen a standing ovation.

Madsen’s response to the recognition: “It took me by surprise, but it was a cool opportunity. I’m glad I got invited and to be a part of it.”

He concluded, “I would love to stay in Wyoming, so it is a great opportunity.”