“The moment you get involved, doors open in ways you never imagined. … When you take initiative and immerse yourself in the opportunities here, you really will enjoy it.”
– Jasmeen Kaur
WVPA Summer 2025 Intern
Her college freshman year, Jasmeen Kaur eagerly explored her college’s career fair to shed light on possible summer opportunities.
An introductory meeting started her path to an internship, college job, and possibly a career path.
At the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s 2024 Spring Career Fair, Kaur met Erica Leman, talent and experience manager for Wabash Valley Power Alliance. They discussed WVPA openings available for college sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Jasmeen Kaur, top row second from left, along with several WVPA employees and interns at an Indianapolis Indians game. Kaur worked with employees and interns across a variety of departments in her summer internship.
“They were just very welcoming,” the Rose-Hulman software engineer major said of WVPA staff members at the fair. “They were warm, they had a smile, and they seemed like they were eager to speak with students.”
Last fall, Kaur (then a sophomore) and Leman bumped into each other at Rose-Hulman’s fall career fair. Leman immediately connected with Kaur on LinkedIn.
“I remembered meeting her the first time and she left a great impression. She was very professional and positive,” Leman said. “She was friendly and confident, and really stood out.”
WVPA hired Kaur as one of several Technical Services interns last summer. She quickly got to work on multiple projects while learning about the technical requirements of a generation and transmission cooperative in the energy industry. She started to develop a single sign-on process for WVPA software and was part of a team that developed a human resources chatbot to answer benefit questions and direct employees to resources.
WVPA interns Jasmeen Kaur and Braydon Noble give a presentation about their project developing a chatbot. Kaur continues to work on the project as a part-time WVPA employee.
“When I first started here, I knew very little about artificial intelligence,” Kaur said. ‘One of the things that I am most proud of is not only learning about AI, but also making it come to life and accessible to Wabash Valley Power employees.”
During her internship, Kaur earned several LinkedIn certifications to bolster her skills. She and other interns also met and networked with WVPA executives, including Curtis Taylor, executive vice president of technology, risk, and compliance; and WVPA CEO Jeff Conrad.
“My time at WVPA has strengthened my professional development, and I believe that’s worth highlighting,” Kaur said. “What stood out to me most was how open everyone was about their own experiences and the mistakes they made when they were starting their careers. It showed that at WVPA, you are surrounded by people who take the time to guide you, share what they know, and set you up to succeed in your future.”
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology junior and Wabash Valley Power Alliance summer intern Jasmeen Kaur. She first met WVPA employees at a spring career fair her freshman year, and interned with WVPA last summer. Her internship led to a part-time job with WVPA.
As her internship ended, WVPA hired Kaur as a part-time employee to continue her project work. She works remote during the academic year and in the office when Rose-Hulman is not in session. From when she first started, Jasmeen was eager to learn and had “a genuine curiosity about how technology supports our cooperative mission,” said Chevelle Williams, director of IT-applications who supervises Kaur.
“She quickly immersed herself in challenging projects, asked thoughtful questions, and took initiative,” Williams added. “Watching her grow into a confident young professional reminded us of the importance of mentoring future leaders and fostering curiosity within our organization.”
Kaur encourages college students interested in WVPA to apply and learn more. Those willing to explore new projects, collaborate with professionals across departments, and propose new ideas while strengthening their skills will excel in WVPA internships, she said.
“The moment you get involved, doors open in ways you never imagined,” Kaur added. “Trust me, when you take initiative and immerse yourself in the opportunities here, you really will enjoy it.”