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The PG&E Corporation Foundation is inviting applications to the annual Better Together STEM Scholarship program. Responding to an uptick in applications from students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the utility has announced that eligibility is expanding to students planning to attend HBCUs anywhere in the United States, as well as California colleges and universities.
The foundation says it will provide funding for a total of $250,000 to students pursuing a degree in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) disciplines. The program will award 20 scholarships of $10,000 each and 20 awards of $2,500 each.
Better Together STEM Scholarships are designed to give the next generation an opportunity to succeed in higher education and support students who have made an impact in their community or who have overcome personal challenges.
"The PG&E Corporation Foundation is proud to support local students as they follow their dreams of becoming our state’s future scientists, innovators, and engineers who can help build our clean energy future," said Carla Peterman, PG&E Corporation executive vice president for corporate affairs and chief sustainability officer, and foundation board member. "We’re also excited to expand eligibility to students pursuing higher education at HBCUs. As a Howard University alumna, I’m grateful for my education that also reinforced my pride in my background and boosted my confidence to be my full, authentic self."
Since 2012, the Better Together STEM Scholarship Program has awarded more than $6.5 million to accomplished students based on a combined demonstration of community leadership, personal triumph, financial need, and academic achievement. Interested applicants can learn more and apply here. The deadline to apply is June 3. Awards will be announced in August.
Scholarships will be awarded based on academic achievement, participation and leadership in school and community activities, and financial needs. Qualifying degrees in STEM disciplines include engineering, computer science/information systems, cybersecurity, and environmental sciences.
Applications are open to high school seniors or graduates, students who have received a GED certification, current undergraduate students, and non-traditional students or military veterans returning to school or pursuing their first undergraduate degree.
To qualify, applicants must live or be dependent on a resident in PG&E’s service area in Northern and Central California; plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate study for the entire 2022-2023 academic year; and be seeking their first undergraduate degree at an accredited four-year institution in California.
In addition to the Better Together STEM Scholarship Program, PG&E’s 10 employee resource groups (ERGs) and engineering networking groups (ENGs) award scholarships to help offset the cost of higher education. The funds are raised totally through employee donations, employee fundraising events, and Campaign for the Community, the company’s employee giving program. Since 1989, more than $5 million in ERG scholarships have been received by thousands of recipients. Applications are taken in December.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation, is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California.