Sacramento Electrician Tech Grad Answers the Call for Change and Stability

The first stop Miguel Pantoja made when he walked out of federal prison was In-N-Out Burger. The second was UEI College.

“I saw a commercial for UEI while I was incarcerated,” Miguel said. “I decided right then that when I got out, I was going to enroll in trade school. I wanted to change my life.”

Five years behind bars gave Miguel time to reflect on his future and what kind of foundation he needed to build.

He had taught himself welding and worked as an inmate welder during his sentence, knowing he wanted to work with his hands in the trades upon release. But after watching robotic systems replace welders on prison job sites, he realized he needed a technical craft that machines couldn’t readily automate.

That pursuit led him to the Electrician Technician program at the UEI College in Sacramento, which he completed in 2023 before launching an electrical career that continues to gain momentum today.

Focused on Becoming Irreplaceable

Before his conviction, Miguel had enjoyed metal fabrication and aspired to join a trade union. Instead, poor choices and the wrong social circle pulled his life off track.

“I was young and immature,” he said. “I let who I thought were my peers influence me into things I didn’t need to be around. As you get older, you start realizing the foolish choices you made when you were young.”

While incarcerated, he continued refining his mechanical abilities. During that time, he observed a shift on the shop floor that permanently changed his outlook.

“I was welding one day, and the next day they replaced my station with a machine,” he recalled. “I realized automation was taking over. That commercial for the electrical program really resonated with me because electrical work is an essential service that will always need skilled human hands. Whether it’s residential, commercial, or solar installations, there will always be steady work.”

Following his release, he explored applying directly for union apprenticeships, but recognized the barrier an existing criminal record posed without recognized credentials. He decided the most effective way forward was structured career training.

Miguel never considered another institution.

“The moment I walked into the campus, everyone was welcoming,” he said. “Admissions representatives, financial aid advisors, the instructors—everyone was focused on helping me succeed.”

Relearning Life on the Outside

Mastering circuitry and electrical theory was not the only adjustment Miguel faced. After half a decade in a federal penitentiary, simply readjusting to daily civilian life required an intentional mindset shift.

“Re-entering society and working to shed that institutional mindset was challenging,” he explained. “Going to school every day was what truly broke me out of it. I had to study the coursework, work on the digital modules, collaborate with peers, and step outside my shell.”

Faculty quickly recognized Miguel’s reliable work ethic and natural leadership. Campus leadership selected him to serve as a Student Ambassador, welcoming prospective trainees and sharing his personal journey with those weighing a career transition.

“I was hesitant at first,” he admitted. “Instructor Charles Felden pulled me aside and told me, ‘Your story needs to be heard. There are people walking through those doors trying to decide whether they’re going back to their old habits or dedicating themselves to a trade.’”

Taking on the leadership role reshaped how Miguel viewed his own potential.

“It opened a whole new door for me,” he said. “It showed me I could hold myself to a higher standard because I was doing something right with my life.”

“From his very first day in the lab, Miguel brought a level of focus, humility, and determination that set the tone for the entire class,” said Electrician Technician Instructor Charles Felden. “He didn’t just master the curriculum—he showed other students what accountability and a true work ethic look like. Seeing him step up as a Student Ambassador and now thrive in the trade is exactly why we do what we do.”

Continuing to Grow in the Field

Today, Miguel works as an electrician for Burgelectric, where he has been employed since landing the position shortly after graduation. His technical projects span Northern California, ranging from high-voltage substations and underground utility infrastructure to sophisticated lighting control panels, highway illumination, and commercial build-outs.

“They’ve appreciated my work ethic and reliability from day one,” he said.

Looking back, Miguel understands how easily his post-release trajectory could have faltered had he not acted decisively. That awareness keeps him grounded.

“My attorney told me that many individuals reoffend simply from the stress of re-entry and the difficulty of finding employers willing to hire someone with a record,” he said. “That’s exactly why I enrolled in the College. I refused to go backward.”

Instead, he has built a lasting career in a field with boundless room for progression.

“My advice is to really think long-term about your career,” Miguel said. “If you’re considering the electrical trade, know that the demand is constant. There are endless opportunities to advance in the field, move into project management, and develop as an individual.”

For Miguel, that entire professional journey began with a single commercial seen through a prison television screen.

“I refused to let myself become another recidivism statistic,” he said. “Anything is possible when you commit yourself completely.”