Mike Rowe promotes tech education in South Dakota

(KSFY)
Published: Sep. 20, 2018 at 11:08 PM CDT
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Mike Rowe, the host of the popular TV series ‘Dirty Jobs’, was in South Dakota Thursday visiting with students at tech schools around the state.

“I've seen his show like a 100 times so I thought it would be a cool thing to come down and see him speak,” Southeast Tech student Adam Beilke said.

Hundreds of students at Southeast Tech and at Lake Area Tech in Watertown came out to see Mike Rowe.

“He spent a lot of time talking to them and listening to them and I think our students really responded,” Southeast Tech President Bob Griggs said.

“He's really enthusiastic about skills based jobs and the opportunities they provide for young people,” Build Dakota Board of Directors President Dana Dykhouse said.

Rowe came to share his passion for creating the next generation of skilled workers.

“Mike was spending his time today talking about the skills based training that people can get and the opportunities that are there,” Dykhouse said. “We have a great need for the skills people get at Southeast Tech and our other technical programs available.”

“Workforce development is so critical not only in our region, but across our state and across our country,” Griggs said.

Rowe applauded the Build Dakota scholarship and other initiatives South Dakota leaders are doing to promote technical education.

“I think he really enjoyed it and was really excited about coming to South Dakota to learn more,” Griggs said.

Rowe sponsors his own work ethic scholarship that has helped several students pursue new skilled careers at Southeast Tech.

“There are people out there that just don't think there are jobs, they don't think that these jobs in the tech industry and my field are worth doing,” Mike Rowe work ethics scholarship recipient Kelly Cline said. “They are, they're clean jobs, they're not dirty jobs, and they're fun jobs.”

“I hope Mike's visit here today really put a spotlight on the opportunities that those jobs provide,” Dykhouse said.