ComEd Spotlights Solar Energy in Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month

Published: September 22, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: ComEd Media Relations 312-394-3500

ComEd Spotlights Solar Energy in Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month

Solar Spotlight program to be held at the ComEd Chicago Training Center will focus on teaching Latino high school students about solar energy and STEM careers

CHICAGO (Sept. 20, 2016) – ComEd is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by offering Latino high school students 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.

WHAT:

ComEd’s Solar Spotlight Program two-day STEM immersion experience and Solar Spotlight dedication

WHO:

ComEd, in partnership with local community organizations and schools, including ASPIRA and Instituto

ComEd will take more than 40 Chicagoland high school assemble solar modules and learn about notable Latinos in STEM-related fields. The culmination is a Lighting Dedication Ceremony in which ComEd will install solar lights in the community to commemorate the students’ work.

WHEN:

Saturday, September 24
Solar Spotlight seminar
ComEd Chicago Training Center, 3536 Iron St, Chicago
8:30 am to 1 pm.

Sunday, September 25
Solar light dedications

1st installation:
Manuel Perez Plaza
26th Street and S. Kolin, Chicago
9:30 am – 10:00 am

2nd installation
ASPIRA
2989 N. Milwaukee, Chicago
11:00 am – 11:30 am

WHY:

ComEd proudly celebrates diversity year-round through programming that provides broad public exposure to diversity in the communities that the company serves. Exposure to STEM is important in high school as students think about their future careers. ComEd is focused on inspiring and equipping the young innovators of the future with the STEM skills they need to be part of its future workforce.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

Keywords: ComEd, Latino Youth, Solar, STEM, training