The buzz and whirr of wheels, gears and electric motors filled the air of Aaron King’s robotics and engineering classroom at Joshua High School just before the arrival of Reid Carroll, United’s system engineering manager.

Carroll was there to talk to King’s robotic’s and engineering students about how his interest in science turned into an engineering career at the co-op. Though Carroll had given “career day” presentations before, he had never presented to junior- and senior-level students.

“I enjoy opportunities to talk about the overall career path, but more specifically about the work we do here at United,” he said. “In my opinion, the career path I chose and the work I get to perform is very fulfilling and has been a great experience so far. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to talk about it with students.”

Carroll’s career presentation was one of three he presented to King’s robotics classes and one of three educational outreach events held by United employees during the month. In February, United’s safety team conducted arcing demonstrations at a Hico elementary school and for employees of Johnson County Special Utility District. 

“Educational training and information, along with commitment to community, are two of United’s seven guiding principles, and participating in career days and performing arcing demonstrations are two powerful ways we get to show these two principles in action,” said United CEO Cameron Smallwood. “While technology and the world continue changing at breakneck speed, our guiding principles are the one constant. They’re the compass that keeps us moving in the right direction, especially when the path isn’t clear. By living our principles daily, we are able to demonstrate to our members who we are at our core, which is a cooperative that exists to serve them, not just provide them electricity and internet services.”

Class Act
Carroll had been here before—in this exact room, as a matter of fact.

Though the desk arrangement and decorations weren’t the same, his arrival is somewhat of a homecoming for Carroll. The room once was his physics class before he graduated from Joshua High School in 2016. 

“I feel like I am about two steps ahead of them in life,” Carroll said. “I have college completed and some tenure in the workforce. And I remember exactly what it felt like to be in their shoes. I feel like I can relate to them in many ways, and hopefully, that increases my ability to communicate my message to them.” 

King, who has worked in the corporate world as an engineer and ran his family’s cotton farm in West Texas, said he found his calling with teaching. 

He regularly brings professionals into his classes to illustrate how studying engineering and science translate to a vast array of different career paths. It also gives his students the opportunity to ask questions about possible career paths and help set their future educational goals and trajectory.

“My job hasn't changed at all in my adult career,” he said. “From farming to teaching, it's the same thing. When I was a farmer, I would plant the seed, right? I would nourish it. I would take care of it. I would do what I could to make it as successful as possible, because there's potential there. With teaching, it is planting seeds of knowledge or character and nourishing it. Sometimes, it doesn't hit. But when it does, it’s a beautiful thing. It blossoms and it grows. Teaching is the exact same thing.” 

In his presentation, Carroll discussed the various engineering departments within the co-op and fielded multiple questions from students. He also emphasized the importance of networking, continuous learning and mastering Microsoft programs for career success in engineering.

“I really had fun talking to the students,” Carroll said. “The closest thing I had to that in school were classes that were more trade-based and not necessarily engineering focused. I hope they got a better understanding of what engineering looks like as a career and not just classroom engineering. I also hope they consider the advice I had for both college and early career opportunities.” 

In the Field
The pop and hum crackle through the air as the linemen draw greenish-white arcs of electricity from the energized lines of United’s arcing demonstration trailer.

Attendees stared in awe as they watched two of United’s demonstrations, which included middle- and high-school students from Hico Independent School District and employees at Johnson County Special Utilities District (JCSUD). 

Brody Weems, a United safety & loss control coordinator, presented at the Hico ISD event. Setting up behind the high school near the agricultural building, he said he welcomed the opportunity to educate young people about electrical safety.

During the presentations, Weems taught students what to do in the event of a downed powerline, as well as a vehicle accident with a utility pole and the dangers of assuming downed lines are de-energized. He also discussed what linemen go through to restore power during an outage.

“Overall, I think the demonstration went really well,” Weems said. “We had some great questions from the kids and enjoyed the opportunity to do our safety demonstration at Hico ISD.”

Eric Kale, an agricultural science teacher at Hico High School, was responsible for bringing the arcing demonstration to the school. He estimated that about 100 middle school and 100 high school students attended the demonstration.

“The arc definitely caught their eyes for sure,” Kale said. “Before United came, we were talking about electrical safety and how this could be something that could happen at your house. It could be at your water well. It could be an issue if you’re painting on a ladder and you come in contact with electricity. We had some follow-up conversations the day after. It was a good warning for students to see just how dangerous electricity is. We had two students observing from Tarleton State there that day, and they both thought it was really good for the students to have seen the demonstration.”

Several days later, Patrick Griffith, also a safety & loss control coordinator at United,  gave another arcing demonstration while talking to a group of about 25 employees from JCSUD.

It’s important for employees of the water utility to understand the power of electricity, he said, because they may encounter downed lines during a weather-induced outage situation.

“The demonstration emphasized the importance of both electrical and water services as critical infrastructure and it reinforced that safety remains a top priority for both utilities,” Griffith said. “It highlighted the shared responsibility to protect personnel, equipment and the public through proper safety practices and awareness. Participants were engaged throughout and found the presentation informative, valuable and beneficial from a safety standpoint.”

Tyler Lyles is the water operations manager at JCSUD. He said some of their employees have attended United’s arcing demonstrations before, but he wanted all the employees, company-wide, to experience one.

“United has always provided us with exceptional response time,” Lyles said. “We appreciate that you guys are always responsive and always willing to help out. I’ve always kind of looked up to United because they’re the gold standard, the pinnacle, for safety. That’s something we want to emulate.”