CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
ComEd is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by providing Latino high school students with the opportunity to learn more about solar energy and career opportunities in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields through its Solar Spotlight Program.
In partnership with local community organizations and schools, including Aspira, Chicago Scholars, East Aurora High School, Instituto, and Alternatives, ComEd’s Solar Spotlight Program will take more than 40 Chicagoland high school students through an innovative, two-day STEM immersion experience where students will assemble solar modules and presentations about notable Latinos in STEM-related fields. The culmination is a Lighting Dedication Ceremony in which ComEd will install solar lights in four community locations to commemorate the students’ work. Locations include:
- Belmont Gardens
- Little Village
- South Chicago
- Aurora, Ill
“Exposure to STEM experiences is important as high school students consider their future career paths,” said Fidel Marquez, senior vice president, Governmental and External Affairs, ComEd. “As a leader in the energy industry, ComEd is focused on helping to grow important clean energy resources like solar, while also inspiring and equipping tomorrow’s STEM leaders with the skills they need to become part of our future workforce. Our Solar Spotlight Program brings these two visions together by helping students learn more about solar energy and opening up the realm of STEM opportunities for them to consider.”
Other Solar Spotlight partners include: Chris Williams of Millennium Solar Electric, a local solar installer from Chicago, who will provide the students with instruction, insight and hands-on training for the various STEM aspects that go into designing, building and installing solar-powered lights. MZI, a Hispanic-owned company and one of ComEd’s diverse suppliers specializing in electrical and mechanical construction and energy infrastructure, will install the solar lights in the outlined communities. ComEd employees will serve as mentors helping with hands-on solar activities and sharing their career stories with students. Local Latino celebrity personalities, Gabe Ramirez from B96 and Mike Oquendo of the Mikey O Comedy Show will be onsite to help with creating community awareness and keeping the student participants engaged. Yuri Lane, the human beatbox, known for beatboxing through a harmonica, also will be on hand to perform for students.
The general public is invited to learn more about the students’ journey through ComEd’s Solar Spotlight Program by visiting the Powering Lives Network www.poweringlives.comed.com. ComEd proudly celebrates diversity year-round through programming that provides broad public exposure to diversity in the communities that the company serves. To learn more about ComEd’s community support, visit ComEd.com/community.
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with approximately 10 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.8 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 and YouTube.
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