Get to Know: Our Spring 2025 Co-op Students 

BETH PARSONS, Dam Safety Team
Engineering, Term 3 (MUN)

Beth enjoys working on things she can see and touch, which is a big part of why civil engineering interests her so much. Combining creativity, problem-solving, and real-world application in a way that feels meaningful, she loves the idea of creating something that people will actually use and be affected by in their daily lives.

As a part of our Dam Safety Team, Beth’s days can vary a lot – from mapping sinkholes on AutoCAD to reviewing documents for project execution and safety preparedness, her work is opening her eyes to the many stages involved in project execution, especially the planning and coordination before work even begins on-site. Working with the Dam Safety Team is giving Beth a chance to understand how different parts of the industry come together and seeing the different roles engineers play in each part of the process is helping her think more about her career path.

Fun Fact: When Beth is not doing school work, she likes to do yoga, read and go on hikes with Brenner, her Bernese Mountain dog.

“In addition to my work experience, another highlight of my term so far was volunteering at Ronald McDonald House. It was such a rewarding and fun experience with the Dam Safety Team and was a great way to connect with colleagues outside of work and contribute to such a meaningful cause.”

DANIEL CHAPESKIE, Regulated Engineering Services (Electrical)
Mechatronics Engineering, Term 6 (MUN)

Daniel has always been inspired by his father’s ability to break down complex problems. When he realized he possessed a similar mindset, he decided to follow in his footsteps and pursue a career in engineering.

This is Daniel’s second work term with us and he’s eager to be back to continue building on what he learned, contribute further to his team, and expand his knowledge of sustainable and efficient power systems. So far, Daniel’s work is focused on researching terminal stations and transformers – such as creating preliminary drawings for terminal station upgrades in BlueBeam, preparing work packs for transformer oil monitoring systems, and creating work packages for disconnect switch replacements. He’s looking forward to visiting more of our terminal stations to enhance his technical skills and gain more hands-on experience.

Fun Fact: In his free time, you can find Daniel exploring outdoors (camping, hiking and dirt biking), playing billiards and video games or diving into new topics to fuel his curiosity.

“This is my second work term with Hydro, and returning was an easy decision. During my first term I gained valuable hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of how electricity is generated and distributed across the province.”

DANIEL HEWITT, Protection, Controls and Communications Team
Electrical Engineering, Term 6 (MUN)

Daniel has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, but during the pandemic he spent time taking old electronics apart to learn how they work – this ignited a curiosity and passion which encouraged him to head back to school to pursue electrical engineering.

As a member of our Protection, Controls and Communications (PCC) Team, Daniel works primarily in protections where he uses drawing software, such as BlueBeam Revu, to review and edit protection and controls drawings for a variety of different projects. So far he has found his work creating construction drawings for transmission line protection projects the most interesting. He’s hoping for the opportunity to travel to a terminal station to have the opportunity to compare what he sees on drawings to real life assets.

Fun Fact: In his spare time Daniel enjoys playing video games, going for hikes and playing trombone in a community band. You can also find him involved in sports such as fencing and billiards.

“While everyone can see the transmission lines along the TCH and see the distribution lines to their homes, few understand the time and work behind keeping such a simple-looking yet complex system alive. While the work done may go mostly unseen in the public eye, its results are visible every day by all the people of this province.”

DENVER WHITEWAY, Engineering Services Team
Geomatics Engineering Technology (CNA)

Denver enjoys the outdoors and has a strong math and science background, which combined to encourage him to pursue a career in Geomatics Engineering Technology.

As a part of our Engineering Services Team, Denver can sometimes be found in the office confirming the accuracy of AutoCAD drawings and completing training. But as an avid outdoor enthusiast, he’s happy that the majority of his time is spent in the field performing hands-on work. He recently returned from his favourite experience so far – two weeks in Labrador where he and the team surveyed points along the Trans Labrador Highway to prepare for power line installation. Denver is excited to be part of a team helping support the infrastructure required to provide a safe, cost-effective and reliable energy to the people in his home province.

Fun Fact: Denver is from Lewisporte in Central Newfoundland. 

“I enjoy how this job takes me to places all over this beautiful province; places where I wouldn’t normally travel. I also appreciate the fact that, through my travels, I get to meet other Hydro employees and learn more about their roles within the company.”

EMMA REDDICK, Water Resources Team, Churchill Falls
Civil Engineering, Term 6 (MUN)

With a passion for math and science Emma chose engineering for the chance to tangibly contribute to a sustainable future. This is Emma’s second work term with us in Churchill Falls, but her first with our Water Resources Team where she monitors daily water flow readings from four of the 88 dykes in Churchill Falls. Emma can see that her work terms are laying a strong foundation for her education. In her last work term, she experienced the design and maintenance that goes into supporting the Churchill Falls Hydroelectric Generating Station and this semester she’s gaining valuable insight on how our Water Resources Department contributes to its sustainable development.

From underground inspections monitoring cross cut flow readings to meetings about our Public Safety Around Dams Program, Emma is always busy. One of her favourite experiences so far has been completing a helicopter dyke surveillance inspection which really put into perspective how much is involved to supply water to the underground powerhouse.

Fun Fact: Emma loves spending time outdoors and playing pickleball. She also enjoys doing ceramics with the arts and crafts club in Churchill Falls.

“I really enjoyed my time in Churchill Falls, getting to know the wonderful people behind the scenes of running the underground hydroelectric plant and town. I’m happy to be back again this term.”

ERIK HAAS, Major Projects Team
Engineering, Term 3 (MUN)

Erik is hoping to pursue mechanical engineering, encouraged by his interest in fixing cars and discovering how mechanical components operate.

Erik has always been interested in hydroelectric generation and he wanted to learn more about how projects of this size are developed and managed. He’s getting this opportunity with our Major Projects Team as he supports work for the Bay d’Espoir Unit 7 Life Extension Project. His favorite experience so far has been his site visit to the Bay d’Espoir Generating Station where he was able to tour both powerhouses and see Units 1 and 2 dismantled for maintenance.

Fun Fact: Erik plays for the MUN rugby team and will be competing in the Canada Games this summer for rugby 7’s.

“I want to be able to be proud of the work I do as an engineer. As engineers, we have a role to play in making clean energy the most viable way of supplying power to not only the big cities but also smaller communities like Wabush or Buchans.”

ETHAN HEAD, Engineering Services, Generation
Mechanical Engineering, Term 6 (MUN)

Ethan has always enjoyed getting his hands dirty to see how things work. Working on his motorcycle and tinkering with other technology sparked a keen interest in engineering.

Ethan feels a strong connection to our corporate values, which was a big reason why he returned for a second work term with us. But he is also drawn to our state-of-the-art assets. Ethan’s first work term brought him to Churchill Falls, the world’s second largest underground powerhouse. This term, while he normally works out of Soldiers Pond, Ethan is also supporting the Unit 2 runner replacement at Muskrat Falls. Being inside the draft tube of Unit 2 has been his favorite experience so far – getting to stand where there is usually thousands of gallons of water flowing was an eye-opening experience and gave him an appreciation for the sheer size of these units.

Fun Fact: Ethan enjoys riding his motorcycle, playing piano and guitar, and competing in ultimate frisbee. He also enjoys spending time in the woods.

“After my first work term with Hydro, it was clear this company values their employees, including their co-op students. Hydro’s co-op program is very structured, well-established and intentional, every step of the way. Being even a small piece in the large-scale operation here is an honor, it’s so fulfilling to contribute towards the generation of sustainable energy.”

JOSEPH PETTEN, Maintenance Work Planning Team
Electrical Engineering, Term 6 (MUN)

Joseph started his career in the trades, but after working for seven years in the Alberta oil and gas industry, he found a growing interest in the design and engineering of the control systems he regularly worked on. With this interest sparked, he moved back home to Newfoundland to pursue a career designing the systems he had spent years fixing and maintaining.

As a member of the Maintenance Work Planning Team, Joseph works with our Exploits Generation department, in Grand Falls-Windsor and Bishop’s Falls. Joseph works closely with the electrical and mechanical maintenance planners and crew supervisors to help organize the weekly and day-to-day work scheduling. He also connects with vendors and contractors to source materials and parts for present and future jobs. Joseph has loved getting to see the dam operations up close as well as the maintenance work on generation units in both Bishop’s Falls and Bay d’Espoir.

Fun Fact: Joseph was born in Thailand and adopted by his family in Port de Grave when he was one. Outside of work he loves to play music, practice martial arts, and has recently started playing golf.

“I want to help people through my work. Whether that’s designing systems and controls that are safe and efficient for work in the field, or researching innovative technology to help strengthen our industry, our province, and our country towards safer, smarter, and cleaner energy.”

KATHLEEN SCOTT, Menihek Generation Operations Team
Electrical Engineering, Term 6 (MUN)

The electrical based courses Kathleen took in her first year of engineering made her want to learn more about electricity and renewable energy.

This is Kathleen’s second work term with our Menihek Generation Operations Team where she has a very supportive team who she is learning so much from. Kathleen’s work focuses on supporting her team to ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of the Menihek Hydroelectric Generating Station. She was very excited to visit Menihek and see a hydro plant for the first time – exploring the powerhouse and witnessing the power generation process firsthand.

Fun Fact: Kathleen was born in Ottawa but has lived in Torbay, NL, for most of her life. She played basketball and volleyball growing up, even getting to compete at the provincial level. In her spare time she enjoys reading, cooking, and taking her new puppy, Luna, for walks..

“As an electrical engineering student, I believe that the renewable energy industry is the future. I enjoy and take pride in the work I do here. Working at Hydro has helped me learn a lot about the energy industry, including valuable knowledge on hydro generation and power distribution.”

KEEGAN LAWLOR, Project Execution Team
Mechanical Engineering, Term 6 (MUN)

Keegan has always been interested in math and science and its real-world applications, as well as designing and being creative.

As part of the Project Execution Team for the Menihek Hydroelectric Generating Station, Keegan collaborates with his team to discuss the work happening on site and ensures the necessary documentation is always in place prior to work execution. He’s looking forward to travelling to Menihek – Keegan knows that seeing it all in person will help him really understand how his daily work is impacting the work happening on site.

Fun Fact: Keegan grew up in Paradise and enjoys spending time with his family, golfing with friends, and has been playing guitar since he was 8 years old.

“Hydro has offered a unique opportunity to improve my understanding of how different disciplines work together and affect one another. It’s been so cool seeing how mechanical energy is harnessed and converted into electrical energy.”

MARIA NASH, Employee Development Team
Bachelor of Commerce, Term 6 (MUN)

Maria was drawn to a career in Human Resources (HR) because of the meaningful impact HR professionals can have on workplace culture. She’s always wanted a career that supports and uplifts others, and HR plays a key role in ensuring employees feel valued, engaged, and empowered at work.

This is Maria’s second work term with us, and as a member of our Employee Development Team her days are always full. She helps analyze feedback from training programs and maintain training records. Maria also works closely with members of her team to conduct research to help support process improvements. Maria is developing her skills in learning management systems and problem-solving – her experience here has helped strengthen her confidence in pursuing a career in Human Resources.

Fun Fact: Maria has a passion for travelling and exploring new cultures. She recently completed a four-month study abroad semester at Memorial’s Harlow campus (UK) where she had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with local UK businesses, gain insight into global business practices, and travel to 12 different countries.

“The HR group here at Hydro is welcoming, knowledgeable, and genuinely supportive. The positive work environment and learning opportunities made it an easy decision to come back to complete my second work term here.”

MOHAMED SAIED, Protection and Controls Engineering Team
Electrical Engineering, Term 6 (MUN)

Mohamed’s deep curiosity for electrical engineering began in middle school and has continued into his undergraduate degree as he follows his passion.

As a part of our Protection and Controls Engineering team, Mohamed is always up for the challenge, tackling the variety of technical tasks that come his way each day. He finalizes work orders and reviews electrical schematics, he particularly enjoys verifying the instrumentation testing on hydroelectric generation units. He’s proud of the role he plays contributing to our vision of providing sustainable energy for our province.

Fun Fact: Mohamed is Egyptian, born in Doha, Qatar. He loves building computers, gaming, playing soccer, going to the gym and he has been boxing ever since he was a kid.

“Hydro has a great reputation for its student training and development programs. I’m excited for this opportunity to develop my technical skills and further develop a strong foundation in instrumentation engineering, which will help lay the technical groundwork for my future engineering career.”

REBEKAH GOSSE, Regulated Engineering Services Team (Mechanical)
Mechanical Engineering, Term 6 (MUN)

Rebekah has always enjoyed problem solving and had an interest in sciences and math, which encouraged her to pursue the broad career paths available through mechanical engineering.

With our Regulated Engineering Services Team, Rebekah works both in the office, and on site, to support her team as they complete major projects and day-to-day tasks, including assisting with drafting and reviewing project documentation. Rebekah’s favourite experience so far has been visiting our Cat Arm Hydroelectric Generating Station, especially since her work term project is focusing on the runner replacement that is happening there over the summer. She’s looking forward to visiting other sites across the island.

Fun Fact: Rebekah is from Torbay and is a proud member of the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Undergraduate Society Executive Team, where she helps organize events and fundraisers to encourage and support women in STEM fields. You can often find her hiking with her three dogs or curling up with her cat and a good book.

“I wanted to complete my work term with Hydro because of their high reputation in safety standards. I had also heard from other co-op students about the great opportunities available to students, including site visits, networking events, post-grad opportunities and training.”

RHOAN DILLON, Project Management/Execution Team
Mechanical Engineering, Term 3 (MUN)

Rhoan knew he wanted a career that he would find interesting and challenging. With this in mind, as well as the variety of career options available, he decided to pursue mechanical engineering.

Rhoan’s days are filled with variety, but often consist of completing reports, completing audits, attending meetings and supporting the work his team is doing. His favourite experience so far was an opportunity to tour our Holyrood Thermal Generating Station. Rhoan is finding this to be a great opportunity to gain experience and an introduction to the electricity industry.

Fun Fact: Rhoan is from St. Philips. He loves sports and plays baseball, golf and hockey.

“The electricity industry is exciting because it is constantly changing and progressing towards more reliable/environmentally friendly power generation.”

SADIA BENTA BASHAR, Long Term Asset Planning Team
Electrical Engineering, Term 6 (MUN)

Sadia has a strong curiosity for how things work – especially when it comes to the systems behind smart technologies. The versatility of the electrical engineering field is what continues to keep her inspired — the combination of technical challenge, innovation, and the opportunity to contribute to something meaningful.

Working with our Long Term Asset Planning (Terminals) Team, Sadia’s days include a mix of fieldwork, data analysis, and documentation. She often completes oil sample analysis and technical documentation but her favourite experiences so far have been her site visits to assess power transformer bushings. Sadia finds that each day provides a good balance of technical work and coordination. Her work is giving her a much deeper appreciation for how technical planning connects to real-world reliability and how her team is helping improve system reliability for our customers.

Fun Fact: Outside of academics, Sadia enjoys reading, photography, and volunteering. She’s had the opportunity to support several organizations including Ronald McDonald House and Eastern Health.

“This is my second work term with Hydro. I was excited to return because of the valuable experience I gained during my first term. I really appreciated the supportive work environment, the collaborative culture, and the chance to learn from experienced engineers who were always willing to guide and mentor me.”