Greene County CTC Winner Shadows with Sponsor

Austin Kiger, a senior at Greene County CTC and Challenge Program attendance award winner, spent some time shadowing with Alpha Natural Resources during his high school career. Alpha Natural Resources serves as the sponsor to The Challenge Program, Inc. at the school.

We had a chance to catch up with Austin about his shadowing experience. Here’s what he had to say:

“During my time with Alpha Natural Resources I traveled to Cumberland Mine, Portal #8. There I shadowed Matt Webber, a Senior Underground Surveyor who shared a great deal of knowledge with me. Safety was a main objective in the mine, as people’s lives depended on the measurements and decisions involved with this line of work.

It was one of my first shadows and having experience in the mining atmosphere was informative and eye opening as a young student. If I could have spent more time there I would have because there was a wealth of knowledge to be shared. This shadow was my first, and still one of my favorite shadows. It instilled the maturity level needed to work in such a serious atmosphere that has followed me throughout my high school career. I know that the time I spent there will help me greatly in the future to become successful in whatever I do.“

Austin’s future plans are to attend college and to work in the oil & gas industry. We wish him the best of luck in the future, and congratulate him on developing the skills and behaviors needed to succeed in the workforce!