NW Valley Times

Solei Donahue completed Grand Canyon University's (GCU) Pre-Apprenticeship for Electricians pathway last year and is now working in the field, encouraging other women to join. She began her career with Corbins, an electrical contractor in Phoenix, starting her first day at 6 a.m. “I didn’t want to be late,” she said. “To be on time is to be late.”

Donahue grew up on the Gila River Indian Reservation and was always told if she wanted something fixed, she had to fix it herself. She joined an orientation of mostly men after completing GCU’s Pre-Apprenticeship for Electricians pathway in December.

“It’s my biggest thing, being a female and just being able to do the stuff all these other men are doing,” she said. “I’m like 5-foot-7 and I saw girls there way shorter than me, and they are out there lifting conduit and 10-foot heavy pipe, you know?”

GCU’s Center for Workforce Development has championed women in the trades. Since the electricians pathway began in fall 2022, around 10 percent of enrollees have been women during a period when the profession nationwide is only 2% female.

“Women are multitaskers and detail-oriented, so a career in the trades is a natural fit for those who are looking for unconventional careers,” said Shelly Seitz, the center’s program manager who was recently elected board director of National Association for Women in Construction's Phoenix chapter. “Employers have realized the value that women bring to these jobs and companies are making strong moves to diversify their workforce.”

GCU’s Workforce Advisory Board is adding a Women in Trades subcommittee for the 2024-25 academic year to attract more women.

Donahue quickly felt comfortable at her job site where she met two other women who had completed the GCU pathway – sisters Janet and Lisette Amaya – also working as apprentices for Corbins.

Donahue, 19, has an independent streak from growing up far from everything and being raised by a single mother.

“I’ve always been a tomboy, played basketball, played outside, got dirty,” she said. “My mom was always working, and she always said that I taught myself to ride my bike."

Her mother, Janice Antone, gave up her own chance at higher education to take care of her children. Antone taught her daughter various repair skills including changing a tire and repairing a toilet.

“She was always tinkering. If something is broke, Solei can fix it. She loves to be the handyman,” Antone said.

It wasn’t until visiting GCU with her brother Jaden Donahue that Solei considered a career in trades after recalling how much she enjoyed using wires to hook up a potato-powered light bulb in sixth grade.

After completing the pathway at GCU, Donahue signed on with Corbins and began working at QTS Data Center in Phoenix while preparing for classes at Western Electrical Contractors Association Apprenticeship.

“My favorite part is just being able to learn new things," Donahue said about her job as an apprentice electrician. "The knowledge of being an electrician and being able to be hands-on with tools.”

Her mother expressed pride in Donahue's achievements: “She is already earning almost as much as me,” helping pay rent.

Antone recently joined her daughter at a Flagstaff workforce summit convened by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity where Donahue spoke about inspiring other girls and women.

“It gave me confidence...to stand for all women...including young women in my community who think joining a trade is scary,” Donahue said during her speech. She recounted how one security girl told her that she was an inspiration for working alongside men.

Antone reflected on this moment: “They were thanking me for doing such a great job raising my daughter.”

Grand Canyon University senior writer Mike Kilen can be reached at [email protected]

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