by Kendell Friemel

Nathan Gibbons, a rising junior electrical engineering major at Arkansas Tech University, is interning in the engineering department at AVECC's headquarters in Ozark this summer. As an Ozark native and 2022 Ozark High School graduate, Nathan started interning the summer after his senior year. His experience learning about AVECC and the roles of the engineering department in the past three years influenced him to major in electrical engineering. 

Nathan works with two AVECC engineers, Samantha Renard and Alex Dickerson. "The work is super fun. We're not always doing the same thing, so you never know what you're getting into. When working for Samantha, we'll program download and download on devices like breakers and other important things. Then, if we're working for Alex, we're working in net metering. If we're helping the substation technicians, we'll be in the substation hands-on."

After learning firsthand how engineers influence rural electricity, Nathan hopes to find a career working for an electric cooperative. "It is just super fun work. It grabbed my interest, and I ran with it."