Kalee Gilmeister, of Eland, has been named one of the recipients of the 2024 Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative’s (CWEC) Electric Utility Worker Scholarship. She will receive $1,000 for her studies.
Gilmeister, a 2024 graduate of D.C. Everest High School, said she decided to seek a career as an electric utility worker because she wanted to pursue her path in the trades and do something that would help other people.
“I feel like it’s going to be something that I honestly will really enjoy,” Gilmeister said.
Because Gilmeister’s mom works for a plumbing, heating and electrical company, Gilmeister said electricity is something that has long interested her. This had her thinking about becoming an electrician. After speaking with the career coach at D.C. Everest, Gilmeister said he encouraged her to consider the Electrical Distribution program at Northcentral Technical College (NTC).
After visiting NTC in February to learn more about the program, Gilmeister decided that was the path she wanted to take.
“He (the instructor) let me try out some of the things and get my hands on some of it,” Gilmeister said. “I just really enjoyed the teachers, the learning environment, some of the things that he taught. I just found it all really interesting and something that I could see myself learning more about.”
Gilmeister said she understands that she will be entering a male-dominated career, and she will have to prove that she has the skills and knowledge to do her job. She added that, in the future, she would be all right with being a role model for young girls.
“Showing that women can do stuff and you don’t have to be afraid if you’re a little different,” Gilmeister said. “How many women are now welders? Times can change. If you love something and it’s your passion, go for it.”
Spending time outdoors and having hands-on work experiences are a couple of things that attracted Gilmeister to pursue an electric utility worker career.
“I’m not the type of person who likes to sit at a desk all the time,” she said. “Having that hands-on thing and trying something that most people don’t really do is something that I think sets me out and will be something that will carry me on for a long way.”
Gilmeister has been accepted to the electrical distribution program at NTC in Wausau, but she is on the waiting list to start the program.
Receiving the CWEC Utility Worker Scholarship is something for which Gilmeister is thankful.
“It’s just absolutely amazing to me that I was able to receive it,” she said. “It will allow me to pay off my debt sooner and have a more fulfilling life — hopefully, even give back to other people who need help.”
CWEC established the scholarship to help address a forecasted shortage of electric utility employees and to encourage students to consider a career in an electric utility.
Eland woman receives $1,000 CWEC scholarship
