Jairus Ayeta Line School Scholarship
Offered by IBEW Local 1245
About This Scholarship
IBEW Local 1245, the union representing Pacific Gas & Electric and other utility workers across Northern California and Nevada, created this scholarship in memory of Jairus Ayeta, a PG&E apprentice lineman who died on the job in 2018. It is a full-ride ticket into the trade: recipients attend the Northwest Line JATC's VOLTA line school with tuition, fees, tools, and lodging covered, plus $50 per day for meals.
Unlike most union scholarships, this one is aimed at outsiders. Applicants must be the first generation in their family to work in the utility industry and cannot be current or former IBEW members. It targets people in Local 1245's jurisdiction who want a path into line work but lack family connections to the trade.
The union selects four recipients each year, two in each of two application windows: March 1-31 for the fall class and October 1-31 for the spring class. The application is refreshingly analog — everything goes in a single email, with no portal or fee.
Eligibility
- Live within the jurisdiction of IBEW Local 1245 (Northern and Central California and parts of Nevada)
- First generation in your family to work in the utility industry
- Not a current or former IBEW member
- High school diploma or GED
- Proof of one year of Algebra on an official transcript
- Current valid California or Nevada driver's license with no restrictions (CDL preferred but not required)
How To Apply
- Prepare a resume and a 500-word essay on a topic related to the labor movement or working in the electric utility industry
- Request two letters of recommendation from a non-relative instructor, principal, counselor, or supervisor
- Gather your high school diploma or GED, an official transcript showing one year of Algebra, and a photo of your CA or NV driver's license
- Email everything together in one message, as PDF or JPG attachments, to [email protected] between October 1 and October 31 for the spring class (or March 1-31 for the fall class)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the scholarship actually pay for?
Full tuition and fees at the Northwest Line JATC's VOLTA line school, plus tools, lodging, and a $50-per-day meal stipend — essentially every cost of attending line school.
Can I apply if a parent works for a utility?
No. The scholarship is specifically for applicants who are the first generation in their family to work in the utility industry, and current or former IBEW members are also ineligible.
When are applications accepted?
In two windows each year: October 1-31 for the spring line school class and March 1-31 for the fall class. Two recipients are chosen in each window.