Morrow Student Building an Electrical Career for Himself and His Daughter

Before Martia Nipper ever stepped into a classroom at UEI, he’d already spent years working jobs he hoped would lead him toward a career he loved.

He installed internet wiring, and he delivered cargo like shingles and building materials. He took jobs that helped pay the bills while taking note of what he actually enjoyed doing. And over time, patterns started to emerge.

“I realized I liked working with my hands, building things or creating stuff,” Martia said. “That’s something I wanted to continue doing and to strive for as I considered what I wanted to do long-term.”

This continual pursuit eventually led him to UEI’s Morrow campus, where he enrolled in the Electrician Technician program. Five months in, Martia said he’s found his ideal career path while earning a regular spot on the honor roll and maintaining nearly perfect attendance.

“This is a field I’m going to do for the rest of my life,” he said. “I may as well go full-throttle.”

Committed to Education from the Start

Martia’s path to UEI grew from years of trial and error. As he moved from one job to another, he found himself gravitating toward work that involved problem-solving and building systems. Plumbing appealed to him for a time, but electrical work offered its own benefits.

“As an electrician, you get to pretty much touch every field,” he said. “It’s more broad, so I wouldn’t be tied down to a single direction.”

Once he knew what he wanted to do career-wise, he started researching schools in the area. He visited multiple campuses before deciding to enroll at UEI.

“I did go to different schools for interviews, and UEI made me feel the most comfortable,” Martia said. “It was really family-oriented. The other schools treated me like a number. It felt like they were trying to make a quota. UEI treated me more like family — more homegrown.”

And due to an unexpected turn, he was forced to prove his commitment to education almost immediately.

After beginning the enrollment process, Martia discovered that he didn’t actually have the high school diploma he believed he’d earned years earlier. Rather than allowing the setback to derail his plans, he addressed the problem head-on.

“When I found out I didn’t have my diploma, they gave me a week to have everything taken care of,” he said. “So, I scheduled a GED test for all the courses and took them the very next day. Eight hours of testing, I passed all the tests, and I was in. That’s how serious I was about getting started.”

Striving for Everyday Success at UEI

Because of his experience as an internet wire tech, some concepts felt familiar to Martia. Now in the residential applications portion of the program, however, he said one of the biggest surprises has been how much deeper the training goes compared to what he expected.

“It was more intense with safety, earning the OSHA 10 card, CPR, and so on,” he said. “The school was opening me up and helping me realize what I need to progress in this field.”

What continues to stand out the most, though, is UEI’s emphasis on applying what the students learn.

“The education was more broad and more detailed,” Martia said. “And when it came to the hands-on things, that’s what pulled me toward it. Everything can be told in theory, but putting it into practice is what I’m more gravitated to.”

He also found himself drawn to one course in particular.

“Electrical theory was my favorite course,” he said. “Having the knowledge to create power out of nothing is something that’s valuable.”

His instructors, Martia said, have helped fuel the enthusiasm that continues to drive him. And they’ve remained patient throughout the coursework, which is something Martia’s appreciated.

“The instructors really love to teach,” he said. “They really engage with the questions. When I don’t understand things, I ask a lot of questions. That can be overbearing for some people, but the UEI instructors really like it.”

One particular instructor has left a lasting impression on Martia.

“Mr. Griffin’s been one to really challenge me in the best way possible,” Martia said. “He himself wants to elevate the next generation of electricians. That’s the whole reason he’s there. He’s a retiree, so he doesn’t even need to be there, but he shows a real passion for the profession.”

Martia currently carries all A’s on his transcripts, earning grades of 95 percent or higher in each module while maintaining perfect attendance. His immediate goal after graduation is to work under experienced electricians and continue progressing through the licensing process.

“I want to get established with a company so I can have a journeyman watch over me,” he said. “I want to continue my journeyman license and take another four years so I can become a licensed electrician.”

Eventually, he’d like to own a company or work independently as a contractor. But beyond career aspirations, his education carries another layer of meaning. Martia hopes his example teaches his 6-year-old daughter about perseverance.

“I want to be a better role model for my daughter — show her learning can be fun and you can gain something very important from it at the end of the day,” he said.