ComEd Future of Energy Scholarship to help over 80 local students pursue college and trades-focused training for energy sector careers this fall
CHICAGO, January 15, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ComEd today announced it has awarded $190,500 in scholarships to 83 local students pursuing post-secondary education in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM). Through the Future of Energy scholarship program, ComEd offers awards of up to $10,000 for college STEM programs and up to $2,500 for trade school programs to support more diverse, local students – those who will play a key role in advancing a cleaner energy future here in Illinois and across the country.
With this latest round of awards, ComEd has awarded over $1 million in scholarships since the program launched in 2021, helping to reduce the financial burden for 180 students.
"ComEd is committed to creating diverse pathways to roles in the growing energy sector to ensure we have the talent needed as we build and maintain the grid of the future. That work starts with investing in our local students, which is why we are proud to announce another round of Future of Energy Scholarships for students to pursue rewarding careers in the energy field," said Melissa Washington, Senior Vice President of Customer Operations and Strategic Initiatives at ComEd. "By expanding the program to support college-bound STEM students as well as local students in the trades, we will create the pipeline to meet the growing demand for talent and ensure those from our communities can play a role in creating a brighter, cleaner future for our communities."
Energy careers are in high demand locally and nationwide, with a recent study finding that as many as 150,000 new jobs will come to Illinois by 2050 to support the clean energy transition. ComEd launched the Future of Energy scholarship to ensure more local students from diverse communities have access to the education and training needed for these roles, and recently expanded the program to fund scholarships for the trades.
Recipients of the 2025 ComEd Future of Energy scholarship reflect the region's diversity, with 96 percent of new awardees identified as people of color or women. This fall, 10 percent of scholars are poised to attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) across the country. Through renewal scholarships, 33 current recipients have earned the scholarship more than once to cover a portion of their college tuition and renewable expenses, ensuring they can continue to pursue their education.
In addition to the financial award, scholars will have the opportunity to intern with ComEd or Exelon, provided that they remain enrolled as a full-time student, meet GPA requirements and complete the company’s hiring process.
Bindu Mukundappa, a 2023 and 2024 Future of Energy Scholar, graduated last year from the University of Illinois in Chicago (UIC) with a bachelor’s in electrical engineering. As part of the ComEd scholarship, Bindu was able to secure an Exelon internship position last summer which led the way to a full-time position afterward. "My parents, who live in India, were very happy and proud that I was able to help them pay for my education by earning the Future of Energy Scholarship. It not only removed a financial barrier for me as an immigrant but it also led me towards a career path in electrical transmission and distribution where I can help advance a cleaner energy future."
In partnership with National Energy Education Development (NEED), ComEd reaches students living in northern Illinois to jumpstart their STEM education with the help of the Future of Energy scholarship program. Students interested in pursuing STEM degrees or trades training in the future can find out more information about eligibility and how to apply for future scholarships at https://needorg.my.site.com/ComEd/s/scholarship-information.
"It’s powerful to see the impact this program has made in the lives of so many diverse students like Bindu, who are rising talent in an industry that is growing year over year," said Mary Spruill, Executive Director at The NEED Project. "With ComEd’s support, we’re committed to helping more students access the help they need to reach their goals, whether that be in pursuit of trades training or a degree in STEM."
The program considers candidates based on need, with 75 percent of new awards going to families who earn an annual income of $150,000 or less. Immigrant students are eligible for the scholarship, provided they are eligible to work in the U.S., ensuring the program is made available to families and students of all backgrounds in the region.
The Future of Energy Scholarship is just one example of how ComEd is preparing more future leaders for careers in energy and construction. In addition to scholarship programs, ComEd is expanding job training programs to help job seekers develop the skills needed to support evolving demands on the grid, like solar, EVs, and cleaner energy technologies. For more information about ComEd training and career readiness programs visit ComEd.com/CleanEnergyJobs.
ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 200 energy company serving more than 10.5 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, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.