$200,000 in scholarship money available through Future of Energy Scholarship to boost entry to STEM careers for students in Illinois
ComEd today announced it is now accepting applications for $200,000 worth of college scholarships made available through its Future of Energy Scholars program, created for Illinois students pursuing degrees in STEM. Now through January 14, 2024, high school and college students can apply for scholarships of up to $10,000 each and the chance to intern with ComEd.
“ComEd is focused on powering cleaner and more resilient communities for the future – and that work begins with ensuring the next generation is prepared to take on the growing volume of careers in our industry,” said Louie Binswanger, Senior Vice President of Government, Regulatory and External Affairs at ComEd. “The future of energy is here, and this scholarship will help to ensure that local, diverse and qualified people can benefit from the economic opportunity that will be created from the transition to cleaner energy.”
Since the program first launched in 2022, ComEd has awarded nearly $640,000 in scholarships to help remove the financial burden for Illinois students interested in careers in STEM. Increasing investments in education and workforce programming is a top priority as ComEd seeks to prepare its communities for as many as 150,000 new jobs coming to Illinois by 2050 as a result of the clean energy transition.
Through the Future of Energy Scholars program, Illinois students can qualify for an award of up to $10,000 to cover college tuition and other related expenses. Selected applicants will also be considered for an internship opportunity with ComEd. To qualify for the scholarship, students must be enrolled in an eligible college degree program, have a minimum 2.8 GPA, and submit an application.
The Future of Energy program serves to increase pathways to STEM, including for groups who are nationally underrepresented in the STEM workforce such as women and people of color.
“Now entering our third year of connecting qualifying students to the Future of Energy Scholars program, it’s been rewarding to see the difference it has made in the lives of students and families that need the extra support to reach their goals,” said Mary Spruill, Executive Director of The NEED Project, which administers the fund. “Securing financial support remains a leading barrier for students attending college, and through our partnership with ComEd, we are addressing this challenge and ensuring that more students, regardless of where they live or their background, are prepared for the careers that will power a cleaner tomorrow.”
The Future of Energy Scholars program is just one example of how ComEd is working to build a diverse and skilled talent pipeline for the future. To help its communities prepare for a wide range of careers connected to the clean energy industry, ComEd this year stepped up its investment in STEM programs while also launching several new trades training pathways, including the launch of the new Take Charge: EV Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program, the CONSTRUCT Youth Academy, and the Power Up Academy. As a result, in 2023 alone, more than 2,500 local residents were reached by ComEd’s wide range of workforce development and STEM education programs.
For more information or to apply for the ComEd Future of Energy STEM scholarship, visit www.comed.com/CollegeStudents.
For more information on ComEd's STEM and workforce programs, please visit www.comed.com/cleanenergyjobs.
About ComEd
ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 250 energy company with approximately 10 million electricity and natural gas customers – the largest number of customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population. For more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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