Page 9 - TTWIFallWinter2024

CTE/Energy
Teaching Today Wisconsin | Fall/Winter 2024 Page 9

We Energies Hosts Hands-On Field Trip For High Schoolers Interested in the Trades

Cameron McCullum is still a teenager, “I find it very rewarding knowing
but he knows how important his role with We how proud my family is of me,” said Derek
Energies is. Coleman, a former apprentice and now full-
“if there’s a big winter storm, who is time designer with We Energies. “i love seeing
going to fix all those frozen pipes or all the the smile on my mom’s face when she tells
electric?” he asked. “People will be out of people about me and my career choice.”
power. People will be out of heat. We need All of the youth interns and apprentices
workers to keep our everyday lives going.” earn a paycheck while working alongside We
McCullum learned about careers in Energies employees. in addition to learning a
energy while he was still a junior at Ronald trade, We Energies offers them life coaching
Reagan High School. that focuses on boosting confidence, increas-
After a competitive recruiting process, he ing self-awareness and building resilience.
was hired as a gas youth apprentice at We Ener- Students take money management courses, are
gies and worked full time over the summer and given interview and resume training, and are
part time during the school year. After gradua- paired with an employee who serves as a life
tion this summer, he was promoted to general mentor — a combination that has proven to be
laborer. life-changing.
“it’s nice to have that feeling on my “i think it helps get kids off the streets,
shoulders that everyone knows i’m depend- helps them get more involved in things that are
able,” McCullum said. for the better,” Tate said. “I plan on doing this
Now, barely out of high school and for the rest of my life.”
already two years into his career, he’s helping To learn more about We Energies
students follow in his footsteps by volunteer- involve many different paths — something After graduating high school and completing youth internships and apprenticeships, go to
ing at a special field trip to We Energies known Cornell Tate, a current line mechanic intern their apprenticeship, participating students are we-energies.com.
as “Demo Days.” and senior at Golda Meir High School, was hired as pre-designers and continue to receive
The annual event gives high schoolers a thrilled to discover. on-the-job training while attending Milwau-
look at what it takes to keep the lights on and “i feel like people that don’t want to go to kee Area Technical College.
energy flowing. Students learn how to operate college but still want a solid career should take To recruit future designers, We Energies
a backhoe, stop a simulated gas leak and climb advantage of this opportunity,” Tate explained. holds a Careers in Energy Open House. This
20 feet into the air in a bucket truck. As part of this program, We Energies also year, past participants of the program had the
it’s a good reminder that careers can offers an apprenticeship in engineering design. chance to speak directly to interested students.

Check Out the

WEWC Mobile

Learning Lab

discover
How the energy industry is growing
and evolving.

explore
Explore the many career opportunities in the
energy sector today at getintoenergy.com.

resources
getintoenergy.org/student-pathways

learn more
Scan the QR code and visit WEWC. We are
developing solutions to meet the current and
future workforce needs of Wisconsin’s energy
industry.