ComEd Spotlights Solar Energy in Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month
Solar Spotlight program focuses on teaching Latino high school
students about solar energy and STEM careers
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.
Contacts
ComEd Media Relations
312-394-3500
