Pathway Makers Awards Luncheon November 2025
Adrian McMahon, a senior at Gila Bend High School, joined his school’s JAG program not knowing it would pave the way to a transformative internship at one of Arizona’s largest employers. Now, as a part-time intern at Salt River Project’s Gila River Power Station, Adrian is discovering firsthand how JAG’s employer partnerships extend beyond the classroom, opening doors for driven students like him.
On November 13th, Adrian took the stage at the 2025 Pathway Makers Awards Luncheon to share his experience and recognize SRP’s impact on his life.
“Our lives are heavily impacted by this amazing opportunity, and we hope we can take advantage and truly push ourselves to our full potential,” Adrian said in his speech to the crowd of JAG supporters and employer partners.
Adrian’s introduction to SRP came through his school’s JAG program, which is directly funded by SRP. He now works part-time alongside fellow student intern Isaiah, rotating through hands-on assignments that give him exposure to skilled trades and power plant operations.
“When we first started it was like any other job, watch safety videos, learn the rules, and get to know the workplace and colleagues,” Adrian explained. “Our first official assignment was to set up a barrier around the cooling towers… it was hot, a little difficult, but we got our first taste of work at the plant.”
Since then, Adrian and Isaiah have been embedded in the daily operations of the power station, attending morning maintenance meetings and supporting various departments, including electricians, mechanics, and I&C techs.
“We switched it up every day, working with more people, and getting a better understanding of what they really do on a day-to-day basis,” he shared.
Adrian’s story is a great example of how SRP’s investment in Gila Bend’s JAG program isn’t just supporting education, it’s transforming lives. By funding the program and hosting student interns, SRP is not only helping students graduate, it's preparing them for high-demand careers in energy and skilled trades.
At the luncheon, Adrian’s testimony was a reminder of why JAG’s Pathway Makers (employer partners like SRP) are important to building Arizona’s future workforce.
“We’ve come very far from the day we started,” Adrian said. “We have met many great people and received great advice from them as well.”
