Preparing the Next Generation of the Clean Energy Workforce — One Go-Kart at a Time
August 10, 2023
When you think of ComEd, do you think of electric go-karts? If you answered no, then you are missing out on an incredible summer STEM program!
2023 EV Rally participants prepare for race day.
On a beautiful summer Saturday in July, the crowds were cheering for nine teams competing in the 2023 ComEd EV Rally! Forty-five young women, ages 13-18, from across northern Illinois came together to form Fuchsia Fusion, Yellow Spark, Green Galaxy, Blue Quest, Teal Turbo, Pink Volts, Orange Flare, Violet Vortex and Lilac Lasers!
For two weeks in July, more than 30 female ComEd employees guided the young women as they built high-tech electric go-karts for an epic race at the Museum of Science and Industry on July 29.
The 2023 EV Rally champions are the Lilac Lasers (From Left: Rachel Chen, Tabitha Woods, Elizabeth Meza, Ariel Gray and Vivienne DeRosa)!
The relay-style race required the teams to complete science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) challenges in between laps on the racecourse, with each team racing against the clock to see who would take home the coveted STEM Cup! This year, the Lilac Lasers were named our champions — but in the EV Rally, every racer is a winner!
Each participant had the opportunity to connect with mentors and peers while working in a STEM-focused environment. At the end of the program, students also received a $2,000 scholarship to use for furthering their STEM education.
The thrill of race day may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but the impact and lessons learned during the program will have a much longer impact on its participants, many of whom are committed to pursuing STEM education and careers in the clean energy space.
Blue Quest completes a race-day STEM challenge.
“I am looking forward to continuing these relationships with the girls and bringing the skills to my everyday life,” said Hannah Roark, member of Blue Quest. “I want to go into the STEM field, so being able to take what I’ve learned and apply it to my life is amazing.”
Preparing Young Women for the Clean Energy Jobs of the Future
A recent, ComEd-commissioned study revealed that the clean energy transition could bring as many as 150,000 jobs to Illinois by 2050. Additional studies by the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition have found that while women currently make up 50 percent of the workforce in Illinois, they only hold 27 percent of STEM-related jobs. ComEd is working to change that.
With the EV Rally program, ComEd aims to educate the next generation on the importance of zero-emissions vehicles and clean energy solutions and encourage diverse young women to seek out these new job opportunities in the clean energy industry.
Violet Vortex members work with their mentors to build their EV Rally go-kart.
“I’ve never been part of a community like [EV Rally] before, so it’s really inspiring,” said Eva Noftz, member of Violet Vortex.
“This exciting program is a fun way for teens to get out of the classroom and experience STEM in a hands-on environment surrounded by like-minded peers,” said Michelle Blaise, senior vice president of Technical Services at ComEd. “The clean energy transition is coming quickly, and ComEd is working to ensure that we have a diverse pipeline of talent ready to fill these new roles and support the evolving needs of our communities.”
ComEd serves diverse communities across northern Illinois, and the participants in this year’s EV Rally reflected that cultural and geographic diversity. This year’s application review process also prioritized students from equity investment eligible communities — or EIECs — as defined by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in Illinois in alignment with our goal to drive equity and support under-resourced communities that face greater challenges due to the long legacy of systemic racism and economic disenfranchisement. Two thirds of the EV Rally participants came from EIECs.
The EV Rally is just one example of how ComEd is preparing more students to become leaders in the clean-energy transition. Additional STEM and scholarship programs include STEM Labs, Power of STEM, the Construct Youth Academy, Chicago Builds, Future of Energy Scholarships and Drop Me In. These programs focus on giving diverse groups of young students exposure to the possibilities of STEM.
Students, parents or school administrators who’d like to be notified about educational opportunities for youth at ComEd can sign up to receive notifications about these programs here.
