- 18 Florida-based
organizations receive significant investments to support new
programming, sustainability and resiliency initiatives, direct
scholarships for students at all educational levels to support
Florida's growing
workforce
ST.
PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 17,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Duke Energy Foundation has
announced $740,000 in grants to
support 18 education-based organizations to continue Duke Energy
Florida's investment in education and future workforce needs
statewide.
This year's grant recipients are education foundations,
community organizations, state colleges and universities. The
resources will fund a variety of energy and engineering initiatives
to benefit a diverse population of students. Grantees will be
hosting career exploration field trips and summer camps for K-12
students, providing resources for teachers to expand educational
programing and encouraging energy and resiliency research
opportunities among Florida
universities.
"Education can spark a lifelong interest in a given field," said
Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida
state president. "It's a privilege to support so many unique
initiatives this year aimed at reaching individual students with
new opportunities that can drive a career and love for energy,
engineering and climate resiliency."
University of Florida (UF) received
a $75,000 grant to support three
energy-focused, education initiatives that will directly impact
students in these fields. One of which, the "Energy Education,
Mentoring and Scholarship Program," will enable participation in
scholarship, educational and research opportunities for a diverse
group of energy-focused students. Through this program, eight
engineering students interested in the energy sector will receive
$2,000 Duke Energy Scholar
awards.
Additionally, the University will be creating a Sustainable and
Resilient Energy Engineering Certificate (SREEC) to encourage
student-led research using solar measurement and conversion
infrastructure installed at the UF Energy Research Park.
"UF is committed to employing community-focused strategies to
spur economic and workforce development across Florida," said Maria
Gutierrez Martin, UF Foundation associate vice president.
"Our shared work is helping high school and middle school students
increase their understanding of the energy grid, prepping college
students for careers in solar energy and supporting five
Florida communities as they plan
for an environmentally resilient future."
In Volusia County, FUTURES
Foundation will use a $30,000 grant
to increase student engagement in three different initiatives
within Volusia County Schools.
These programs are focused on energy design studies:
solar/alternative, electrical and plant.
"FUTURES is grateful for the consistent support provided by Duke
Energy. This grant will allow students to participate in STEM
programs at Rose Bay," said Shimene
Shepard, FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools executive director.
"Although we are a coastal community, this is often the first
opportunity these students have to be on the water."
A complete list of grant recipients can be found below, with
additional details available here.
K-12 Education
- Citrus County Education Foundation
- Consortium of Florida Education Foundation
- Education Foundation of Lake
County
- Foundation for Orange County
Public Schools
- Foundation for Seminole County
Public Schools
- FUTURES Foundation for Volusia
County Schools
- Highlands County Education Foundation
- Jefferson County Education Foundation
- Madison County Education Foundation
- Orlando Science Center
- Pinellas County Education Foundation
- Polk County Education Foundation
Higher Education
- Seminole State College of
Florida
- Florida Agriculture & Mechanical University
- Florida Polytechnic University
- University of Central Florida
- University of Florida
- University of South Florida
For more information about the Duke Energy Foundation, please
visit duke-energy.com/community/duke-energy-foundation/Florida.
Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to
meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and
work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.
Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300
megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million
residential, commercial and industrial customers across a
13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.
Media contact: Audrey Stasko
Media line: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy