New Future of Energy Scholarship Fund Prepares Local Students for Success in College & STEM Careers
March 2, 2022
As communities in Illinois and across the nation brace for the fight against climate change, experts predict sizeable job growth fueled by advancements in electrification, engineering and clean energy technologies. Today, energy sector jobs are among the fastest growing in the U.S. – and it’s anticipated that significant increases will be seen in the years ahead in job categories such as electric vehicle storage, energy efficiency operations and beyond. To meet new demands of the clean energy economy – ComEd is working to scale a bright and diverse workforce to help power for the clean energy workforce of the future.
To increase the pipeline of diverse talent to fill these jobs, ComEd created the Future of Energy Scholarship, which awards up to $10,000 in financial assistance to support women and minority students pursuing STEM degrees. The new $250,000 Future of Energy scholarship fund launched its inaugural application in February; applications will be accepted through April 8, 2022. Scholarship winners will receive individual awards ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 and a chance to pursue a ComEd internship where students gain direct career experience in the energy industry.
“A diverse and inclusive workforce is critical to our mission of strengthening the communities we serve, which is why ComEd is making investments today to remove barriers and to build an industry more inclusive with those who have traditionally been left out,” said Diana Sharpe, vice president of large customer operations and interim vice president of economic and workforce development with ComEd. “The ComEd Future of Energy scholarship empowers young leaders and works to see that more people of color and women are prepared to enter careers in the fast-growing energy industry.”
While ComEd is currently accepting applications, it also announced the first five recipients of the Future of Energy Scholarship. Saul Garcia, a senior at De La Salle Institute and resident of South Chicago, is one of them. He is an aspiring civil engineer who wants to channel what he’s learned as an intern at ComEd to help Illinois adopt new clean energy technology solutions that represent the future of the industry.
“The Future of Energy Scholarship will help me realize my dream of becoming a civil engineer,” said Saul. “The firsthand experience I’ve had at ComEd through my internships and after school programs has been just as valuable as the financial assistance the scholarship will provide for college.”
Through his high school years, Saul has participated in after school STEM initiatives such as ComEd’s Create a Spark program, where high school students gain knowledge about engineering design, reliability and sustainability, and he also interned with ComEd’s Smart Grid department.
Meet the diverse cohort the new Future of Energy Scholars:
- Arianna Burkes, Plainfield East High School grad, Management Information Systems major at Iowa State University of Science and Technology
- Saul Garcia, De La Salle Institute Class of 2022 and future Civil Engineering major
- Isabelle Genin, Downers Grove South grad, Business Administration major at Auburn University
- Ashton Randolph, Hudson Senior High School grad, Electronics & Communications Engineering major at Iowa State University of Science and Technology
- Nena Said, Amos Alonzo Stagg High School grad, Industrial Engineering major at University of Illinois at Chicago
The application for The Future of Energy scholarship closes March 28. Priority consideration will be given to people of color and women; Illinois residents enrolled in an Illinois university or college or Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the country; and those demonstrating financial need.
For more information scholarship eligibility or to apply for the ComEd Future of Energy STEM scholarship, visit: https://need.force.com/ComEd/s/scholarship-information.
