Umatilla Electric Programs Help Local Students Turn Dreams into Reality

UEC’s youth programs have history of springboarding students into meaningful careers

Rural scholarship programs play a crucial role in empowering students from small communities by providing the financial support and resources they need to pursue higher education. These programs not only ease the burden of college expenses but also offer connections to their home community, supporting their pursuit.

The Umatilla Electric Cooperative (UEC) scholarship program exemplifies this mission by investing in the futures of local students. Up to $50,000 in financial assistance is given annually, supporting young people to pursue their educational goal. By fostering the growth of the next generation, UEC is supporting these students to become leaders, innovators, and active members of the region.

By ANDREW CUTLER

Since she was 15, Juana Gaytan had a singular focus of becoming a physician assistant and with the support of a Umatilla Electric Cooperative scholarship, she was eventually able to turn that dream into reality. Gaytan, a 2011 graduate of Riverside High School in Boardman, is a certified physician assistant/associate and currently works at Hope Clinic, a health center in Houston, Texas. “I do family medicine and daily I get to treat the majority of my patients in their native language, Spanish,” said Gaytan, who is fluent in both English and Spanish. “Most of my patients come in with chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol. I get to spend time with them educating them on the importance of health prevention.”

Gaytan said she chose to work in family medicine because that was where she felt she could make the most impact.

“I am fortunate to follow many patients’ progress providing them with the appropriate treatment and adjusting it as needed to reduce their risk factors,” she said.

As a PA-C, Gaytan has found a fulfilling career that offers both professional autonomy and personal flexibility.

“The great thing about being a PA-C is the work-life balance. The majority of us work in either a clinic or hospital setting. Despite the word ‘assistant’ in the title, we don’t actually assist anyone,” Gaytan said. “We collaborate with doctors and the medical team but we independently see, diagnose and treat our own patients. We also have flexibility of cross training in different specialties as well.”

After graduating from Riverside, Gaytan attended Oregon State University where she graduated in 2015 with honors.

While attending school in Corvallis, Gaytan received a boost from Umatilla Electric. After reading about the cooperative’s Scholarship Program in Ruralite, the first generation Mexican-American applied.

“It really helped with tuition,” Gaytan said of the scholarship. “Between employment, grants and many scholarships, I graduated with my bachelors degree without any student debt.”

The Umatilla Electric Cooperative Scholarship Program supports the accomplishments of its members and their children by awarding up to $50,000 annually to deserving students. The program is divided into three categories — academic, engineering and lineman trade.

After earning her bachelor’s degree from OSU, Gaytan applied to a few PA programs in 2019 and was accepted to the University of St. Francis in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Gaytan said the role that the cooperative’s Scholarship Program played in her realizing her dream of becoming a PA-C can’t be overstated.

“Eastern Oregon is fortunate to have local companies such as UEC using their platform to support students in our region pursue higher education in all disciplines,” she said.

Gaytan emphasized the importance of determination and resilience for students pursuing their dreams, especially for those who are firstgeneration college students. “For those students interested, my biggest advice is be willing to get out of your comfort zone, seek a mentor, and understand a lot of sacrifices are needed in order to achieve your goals, especially if you are a first-gen student,” she said. “We have to overcome more, as we are generally our family’s trailblazers.” Hydromania Camp sparks interest in science, electrical career for Hermiston graduate For Thomas Mabbott, the chance to attend Umatilla Electric Cooperative’s Hydromania Camp was initially just a chance to get out of the house during the summer and be with friends.

Little did the Hermiston High School graduate know at the time, it would spark a career in the trades.

“My sister, who is five years older than me, attended a year of Hydromania,” Mabbott said. “It’s safe to say, I was jealous that she got to be with friends and make memories, while I was stuck at the babysitters. So from that point I always looked forward to the chance of going.”

Mabbott finally got his chance to attend during the 2011 and 2012 summers.

UEC’s Hydromania Camp is focused on science, water, environment and energy. Hydromania includes hands-on experiments, activities, field trips and interaction with other students, making for an unforgettable experience.

“The best part of Hydromania were the field trips. Two that standout the most were the trip to the Umatilla River to learn about water and aquatic life,” he said. “And the tour of the inside of McNary Dam.”

Mabbott said it was that tour of McNary Dam where he met the individual who would become his best friend and remains, to this day, one of Mabbott’s closest friends.

“I met Case Hiatt on the first day of camp and he and I got to stare at fish swimming up the fish ladder on the Washington side of the dam,” he said.

Mabbott said Hydromania deepened his appreciation of the outdoors and he may have enjoyed science class a little more in school.

“I was interested,” he said. “Hands-on learning was my biggest takeaway from the educational part of Hydromania. And by the time I graduated high school, I knew the trades were my best career choice.”

Indeed, two weeks after graduating from Hermiston High School, Mabbott received an opportunity to start as an electrician’s material handler for two months before interviewing and being accepted into the electrical apprenticeship program at Blue Mountain Community College.

“It’s been quite the journey for me to say the least,” he said. “After one year I decided to try out a different trade. I went to lineman school for three months on the coast with several good buddies.”

Following his short stay on the coast, Mabbott realized his passion was to become an electrician. Mabbott has finished the necessary schooling and the mandatory 8,000 work hours. The final hurdle is passing the Oregon Electrical Journeyman exam prepared by the state’s Electrical and Elevator Board. For the past year, Mabbott has been working on the Grande Ronde Hospital expansion project in La Grande, where he now lives.

Umatilla graduate builds a career in school nursing

Being a nurse wasn’t always something Tamara Bow envisioned, but two traumatic family medical emergencies changed her perspective.

“My sister endured traumatic medical emergencies in 2003 and 2005,” she said. “In those horrific experiences, I witnessed nurses provide incredible care — both medically and emotionally — which solidified my career choice.”

Bow enrolled at Boise State University following her 2001 graduation from Umatilla High School. She completed her undergraduate work in 2005 and since, has completed nursing school, and bachelors and masters degrees, both in nursing. Bow is currently back in school, attending Boise State to get her doctorate degree.

Bow got a boost with her schooling in 2014 with a scholarship from Umatilla Electric Cooperative through the cooperative’s Scholarship Program.

“I learned about the scholarship in a statewide search for funding to obtain my bachelor’s in nursing degree,” Bow said.

Bow became a school nurse for the Umatilla School District in 2018. She also serves as the lead school nurse for Intermountain Education Service District, where she trains and supports 11 other registered nurses in the region.

Reflecting on her journey in the health care field, Bow encourages others to explore the wide range of opportunities available.

“My advice for anyone considering a career in health care is to do it. Health care is a unique field, where there are a million different options to suit your preferences,” she said. “RNs are needed in hospitals, clinics, schools and public health. The options are endless to find the position that best fits your needs and provides a vital need to our community.”

Hermiston graduate grows through UEC opportunities

Elizabeth Doherty has benefited from a couple of Umatilla Electric Cooperative programs.

The 2023 graduate of Hermiston High School was one of two Umatilla County students representing UEC at the 2022 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Washington, D.C., Youth Tour. Doherty also was the beneficiary of a scholarship through the UEC Scholarship Program.

“UEC has provided me with two unique opportunities that helped me prepare for my future education,” she said.

Doherty is preparing to begin her sophomore year at Stanford University where she is studying international relations, with focuses on comparative international governance and Latin American and Iberian studies.

“In the future, my goal is to either work in international policy in a developing country or to become a lawyer and, ultimately, open my own practice,” she said. “However, I am open to changing and evolving my proposed career path in the next three years as I finish my undergraduate education.”

Reflecting on the impact Umatilla Electric Cooperative had in her life, Doherty emphasized the importance of community involvement and support. She believes that rural cooperatives, like UEC, play a crucial role in fostering strong, interconnected communities.

“Growing up on a small farm in a closeknit community, I was surrounded by great role models and people who supported my dreams,” she said. “Support from UEC and other local business and service groups helped me better understand ethical and mutually supportive business practices. No matter what my future career holds, I will bring these community-oriented values with me.”

Juana Gaytan

Thomas Mabbott

Tamara Bow

Elizabeth Doherty