Scholarship Winners Aim for Diverse Careers Including Cosmetology, Line Work & Medicine
By Dianna Troyer
Recipients of United Electric Co-op’s $500 scholarships are pursuing a variety of careers ranging from health care and cosmetology to agriculture and line work.
4 memorial scholarships honor former co-op managers: John Jones, Grant M. Saxton, Larry Burbank, and Ralph Williams.
The application period for the next round of scholarships is open. The completed scholarship application, a high school transcript, and a photo are due by 5 p.m. April 10 to the UEC office in Heyburn. Nontraditional student applications are due by 5 p.m. June 5.
Applications can be found on our website or at your high school counselor’s office.
Recent recipients say the scholarship is helping them pursue their dreams.
Valentin Martinez Guzman Jr.
- John Jones Scholarship
Valentin earned a scholarship to play soccer at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Oregon. He plays center attacking midfielder.
He completed a dual enrollment program at Minico High School and graduated with an associate’s degree.
“After I graduate from here, I’d like to study biology and become a dentist,” he says. “My dad was a welder and would come home tired. Before he passed away, I promised him I’d get a doctorate degree.”
His role model is Hugo Sanchez, a Real Madrid star, who earned a degree in dentistry after retiring from soccer.
After Treasure Valley, Valentin is considering a transfer to Eastern Oregon University.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship,” he says.
Audrey Darrington
- United Electric Scholarship
A self-described “continual learner,” Audrey is excited to continue her educational journey.
“I’m so thankful United Electric helped make that possible through the scholarship I received,” she says.
A Declo High School graduate, she is studying health sciences at Boise State University.
“So far, I’ve loved the academic experience,” she says. “I’m hoping to go into the nursing program after I complete my prerequisites.”
After graduating, she plans to enroll in a nurse practitioner program.
“The medical field has interested me since I was a little girl,” she says. “I find it so exciting.”
She currently works as a medical assistant at an urgent care clinic.
“I absolutely love it—interacting with new people daily and helping them when they need it most,” she says. “I also love the fact that the field is always progressing and improving. It’s so fun to learn new things and see how optimal care can be given.”
Lexie Williams
- Ralph Williams Scholarship
After graduating from Burley High School, Lexie decided to take a gap year.
Next fall, she will enroll at Paul Mitchell The School.
“I want to learn to do hair and eyes and nails—making girls feel the best they can be,” she says. “I have friends who work in this field, and it’s a good work environment.”
After graduating from cosmetology school, she plans to work in the Burley area.
Hallye Searle
- Grant M. Saxton Scholarship
Hallye is enrolled at Idaho State University, where she studies nursing.
“My mom and cousins work as nurses and are role models,” the Burley High School graduate says.
Hallye wants to practice in women’s health or pediatrics.
“After graduating from nursing school, I’d like to get a job in the area where I grew up,” she says.
Taylor Miller
- United Electric Scholarship
Taylor is studying agri-business at Brigham Young University-Idaho.
“I grew up with horses, raising sheep in summer and doing rodeo,” the Declo High School graduate says. “My dad is an ag teacher. I was active in Future Farmers of America.
She says agri-business appeals to her because it offers a variety of career choices.
“After I graduate, I’d like to come back to the area,” she says. “There are so many different ag companies to work for. Studying macro and micro economics and accounting specifically for agriculture is interesting.”
Olivia Edgar
- United Electric Scholarship
To fulfill her dream of becoming a veterinarian, Olivia is studying biology at Idaho State University. She graduated from Minico High School.
“I love animals and would like to work in a practice with both large and small animals,” Olivia says. “I’ve always enjoyed studying science, too.”
Olivia appreciated the opportunity to spend the summer shadowing Dr. Trevor Stapelman at his veterinary clinic in Burley.
“The work is really rewarding,” she says.
Olivia grew up on her family farm, helping raise cattle, alfalfa and barley in the Rupert area.
“I’d love to go to vet school at Washington State University,” she says.
Tegan Terry
- Larry Burbank Scholarship
Tegan is studying computer engineering at Idaho State University.
“I like ISU’s small professor-to-student ratio,” the Burley High School graduate says.
With the advent of artificial intelligence and its many applications, Tegan says having a computer career will enable him to be an innovator of the future and to stay relevant with technological developments.
“A career dealing with computers has so many different applications—in medicine, business, cybersecurity, science and space,” he says.
In medicine, computer software can sometimes detect what the human eye misses, he says.
“What really interests me is the hardware and how more information can be stored in smaller components,” he says. “There are some predictions that eventually human language will replace coding commands. Our future depends on computers with everything we do.”
Kalvin Robinson
- Nontraditional Scholarship
Ever since junior high school, line work fascinated Kalvin.
“When I was 13 or 14, there was a career night at my church with Idaho Power linemen and a bucket truck,” he says.
During high school, United Electric Co-op’s safety trailer demonstration solidified Kalvin’s career choice.
“The trailer was at a career night in high school, and watching and listening to the linemen, I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” he says.
After returning from a 2-year mission for his church, he enrolled at Prime Line Academy, a linemen training program in Heyburn. He graduated Nov. 21, 2024.
“I loved it,” Kalvin says. “I’m excited to be looking for my first job in this field,” he says. “I’d like to stay in Southeastern Idaho.”
