(ABILENE, Texas) – Celicia Lopez wants to reach heights that no other female has reached before in the Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology program at Texas State Technical College.
She is the first female student to enroll in the program in Abilene, and she plans to be the first to earn a certificate of completion in the program there.
“I have some big shoes to fill, being the first female student,” the Abilene native said. “I want to make a difference and show other women that this is something we can do.”
Lopez said she knows that the electrical lineworker trade is dominated by men, but it has not stopped her.
“I want to be among the best lineworkers in the industry,” she said.
Lopez said some days climbing the electrical poles have been difficult, but she considers that a challenge.
“I know that I have to get over that fear of heights,” she said. “To do that, I have to keep going.”
On her first day at the practice utility pole yard, Lopez successfully reached the summit three times. She uses that accomplishment as motivation.
“I think it was the adrenaline that first day that helped me,” she said.
Instructor Kyle Casey said Lopez has shown something positive early in the program.
“She has the heart to be successful,” he said.
Lopez is using something else to motivate her.
“My family has been very supportive of what I am doing,” she said. “That keeps me going.”
When asked why she decided to pursue the program, Lopez said the answer was easy.
“I want to be able to help people, especially when the power goes out,” she said.
According to onetonline.org, electrical power-line installers and repairers in Texas earn a median salary of $72,510 a year. The website projected that there would be a 24% increase in the number of such jobs in the state from 2020 to 2030.
TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and a certificate of completion in Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology at its Abilene, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall and Waco campuses.
The program is part of TSTC’s Money-Back Guarantee, which refunds a participating graduate’s tuition if he or she has not found a job in their field within six months after graduation.
To learn more about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.
