Jennie Kordenat of IBEW Local 48 received a Founders’ Scholarship from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. It is one of only two scholarships awarded annually to working members of the IBEW based on academic achievement and potential, character, leadership, social awareness, and career goals.
Kordenat will receive $200 per semester hour toward her degree, with a maximum amount of $24,000, not to exceed an eight-year period.
Kordenat, 41, is pursuing a pre-law degree, but also is interested in public administration and business administration.
Until mid-2011, Kordenat, who is married and has two active middle- and high-school-age daughters, three dogs, and a rabbit, was working full time and taking 10-15 credits at Washington State University-Vancouver campus. She had to take a break from school to attend to a life threatening medical issue afflicting her husband. Now that he’s fully recovered, she will return to her previous schedule of work, family (now with an exchange student from Iceland), and school, next term.
Kordenat is a senior prevailing wage compliance investigator for Fair Contracting Foundation of Oregon and Southwest Washington. She has worked there since 2006.
A resident of Longview, Wash., Kordenat joined the IBEW in 1993, coming in as an apprentice. As a member of Local 970 she served as recording secretary, on the Executive Board, and on the Examining Board. [Local 970 merged with Local 48 earlier this year.]
Kordenat’s father, Jan Kerby, is a retired 42-year member of the IBEW and a past president of Local 970. He now serves as registrar for Local 48.
Kordenat’s husband, Keith, is apprenticeship coordinator for Portland-based Iron Workers Local 29.
