Grant PUD present at Wahluke's Outdoor Career Day

Human Resources Generalist Luis Sanchez and Electrical Engineer John Kemman pitched job opportunities at Grant PUD during the Wahluke School District's Outdoor Career Day, April 28.

"It's just a lot of fun," says Luis. "We let the kids know there is more than one way to get to us. You don't have to have a college degree. There are trade schools, apprenticeships and?job shadows. We also talk to them about how getting on board with us is a journey, because we encourage coworkers to try new things and learn the different functions of the utility."

The annual event drew eight to 10 employers to the Wahluke High School campus in Mattawa, including the U.S. Army and Life Flight, which both stole the show by landing their helicopters nearby.

This was Luis' second year at Career Day. He asked John Kemman to come along, because John's volunteer work around the school and community makes him a familiar sight to many.

"They know him as being a volunteer, but not necessarily what he does for a living," Luis said. "This gives him a chance to talk about that."

High schoolers and middle schools visited employers' tables and gathered information.?The mix of students who filed by the Grant PUD table was about a 50-50 mix of boy and girls, Luis said.

The boy in the photo, Adrian Martinez, peppered John with questions about how electricity moves from location to location and how the substations interact.?

Luis also participates in Grant PUD career outreach through mock job interview with students from area high schools and Big Bend Community College.?

Plenty of coworkers have said they're willing to help.

"We're trying to get out to more schools," Luis said. "As the word spreads that we do career fairs, many?have said, 'Next time you do one, let me know.' The support from within just continues to grow."

— Christine Pratt, Grant PUD, Public Affairs

Read the Columbia Basin Herald's?article on Outdoor Career Day: https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2023/may/03/wahluke-students-eye-opportunities-outdoor-career-/?n=%40