- High school graduates in Pinellas County will receive
scholarships to attend the local college for free
- Funding reinforces company's support for St. Petersburg College, as well as a shared
commitment to create a diverse, skilled workforce that is
representative of the communities we serve
ST.
PETERSBURG, Fla., Jan. 18,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy Florida today
announced a $50,000 donation to
St. Petersburg College's (SPC) Promise
Scholarship program to provide 2024 graduates of eight Pinellas County high schools with the
opportunity to attend SPC at no cost to them.
The funding from Duke Energy Florida will provide upcoming high
school graduates with an opportunity to get their tuition and fees
completely covered as they obtain associate degrees or financial
aid-eligible certificates.
"Duke Energy Florida and SPC have a long-standing history thanks
to a shared commitment to uplifting the communities we serve," said
Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida
state president. "We are grateful for the decades of successful
collaboration with SPC that ranges from staging crews at their
campus during storms to educating generations of our employees to
the creation and success of the Electrical Lineworker program. We
are proud to support this scholarship opportunity that we believe
will have a lasting impact on tomorrow's workforce as well as
generations to come."
SPC's Promise Scholarship was launched last year as a pilot
program for graduates of five area high schools with the highest
poverty rates in Pinellas County.
In 2023, more than 460 students received the scholarship. The
college also announced last year that it has increased the number
of high schools participating in the program to eight.
"This generous donation from Duke Energy helps us continue our
promise to educate students into better jobs, better lives and
better futures," said Dr. Tonjua
Williams, SPC president. "We have collaborated with Duke
Energy on many initiatives over the years and greatly appreciate
their continued support of SPC and our students. They are
intentional in their philanthropic endeavors, always striving to
advance the community."
Scholarship monies are disbursed on a first-come, first-served
basis. Once an SPC application is submitted, students will be sent
the next steps.
More details on the scholarship are available at
spc.edu/promisescholarship.
Duke Energy
Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy
(NYSE: DUK), owns
10,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 1.9
million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a
13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.
St. Petersburg College
Founded in 1927, St. Petersburg
College (SPC) is Florida's
first two-year college. Regionally accredited and nationally
recognized, SPC offers more than 200 degree, certificate and
transfer programs, including many high-demand, high-skill,
industry-recognized workforce certifications. The college's
career-focused curriculum is created with input from industry
experts to provide students with real-world skills needed to meet
the needs of today's employers.
Media contact: Audrey Stasko
Media line: 800.559.3853
Twitter: @DE_AudreyS
St. Petersburg College media
contact: Samantha Stanich
Phone: 727.341.4195
Email: Stanich.Samantha@SPCollege.edu
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SOURCE Duke Energy