For Angie Lopez, service takes many forms. Some days, she wears a military uniform, training and working alongside fellow soldiers. Other days, you’ll find her at Southern California Edison, helping craft messages that keep customers and the community informed and inspired.

As both a U.S. Army reservist and SCE Corporate Communications intern, Lopez is driven by a similar purpose: to give back to the communities that raised her, shaped her and continue to inspire her.

“In the military, I signed up for a direct service to my country,” Lopez said. “At SCE, I might not be in the field, but I still feel the same sense of purpose because we’re impacting the daily lives of millions of people. I’m proud to do meaningful work in both of my roles.”

Lopez is currently getting her master's degree in public relations and advertising at the University of Southern California. At SCE, she supports employee communication campaigns that keep team members informed, engaged and connected. Her efforts help encourage team members to stay connected and take pride in the work they do every day — powering homes, hospitals, schools and businesses across Southern California.

“I love the people aspect of communications and the ability to connect and inspire through meaningful messages,” said Lopez. “While my current role focuses on internal work where I can tell the stories of my colleagues, I’m eager to expand into external communications and help share important information with broader audiences.”

Before she discovered her passion for storytelling, Lopez was finding herself as a young recruit in the U.S. Army. Now, for four weeks out of the year, Lopez ditches the business casual office attire in exchange for a camouflage uniform — attending her annual Army training that keeps her prepared for service if called upon. It’s something she’s been doing since she graduated high school.

At just 17, Lopez enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and left her hometown of La Puente, California, for basic training in South Carolina — a massive change for a sheltered teen who’d never been outside the state. She spent the next three months learning to become a 92 alpha automated logistics specialist. Her responsibilities include managing inventory, maintaining supply records and providing efficient logistical support for Army operations.

She joined the military in part because it would help pay for college, but also to prove that she could.

“People told me I was too girly to make it in the military and that I was making a mistake,” Lopez said. “Entering training was such a blessing in disguise because I’ve been able to prove that I am capable of it, and I learned a lot about myself. It helped me mature quickly.”

The challenge shaped her — it taught her resilience and the value of community. She proved to the naysayers and herself that she could not only succeed but exceed expectations. During a recent field training exercise, Lopez was awarded a battalion coin, a recognition given to soldiers who go above and beyond for fostering camaraderie and high spirits across units.

By year’s end, she’ll have completed an eight-year commitment to the military and she’s looking forward to continuing her service in a new way at SCE.

“I just feel really lucky to be a part of two organizations that serve the public,” she said. “How many people can say they serve their community in so many ways?”