Young Women in Illinois Rev Up to Build, Race Electric Vehicles in ComEd's EV Rally
Over four build nights, students work with their mentors to assemble electric go-carts while also learning about STEM principles and participating in STEM challenges. The program reaches top speeds on Saturday, July 26 at noon, when the girls race their completed go-carts at The Fields Commons in Chicago.
'The ComEd EV Rally program is an incredible way for teens to get out of the classroom and experience STEM hands-on supported by likeminded peers and talented mentors,' said Cheryl Maletich, Senior Vice President of Transmission and Substation at ComEd. 'Careers in STEM fields are open to all, and we are committed to ensuring the next generation of women have opportunities for successful, rewarding and lucrative careers in STEM spaces. The energy and excitement that surround these future STEM leaders is electric, and we at ComEd are proud to support their continued pursual of STEM education.'
Female students between the ages of 13 and 18 were eligible to apply for the program. The 45 participating students will each receive a $2,000 scholarship upon program completion.
Information on how to attend the race can be found at: ComEd.com/STEM.
'We are always grateful for opportunities to strengthen the STE(A)M (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) community and bring innovative ideas to the forefront of our field, especially in young people," said Dr. Jessica Chavez, Ruth D. and Ken M. Davee Vice President of Education and Chief Learning and Community Partnership Officer at Griffin MSI. "Our partnership with ComEd and EV Rally is an exciting way to showcase the passion of female students in our community, support the futures of historically underrepresented groups in the STE(A)M workforce, and inspire the inventive genius in everyone.'
From its early beginnings as the Icebox Derby, this program has impacted its participants far beyond crossing the finish line at the end of Race Day. Many past participants have gone on to pursue other educational and employment opportunities through ComEd and Exelon, its parent company, including scholarship programs, mentorships, workforce development programs, college-level internships and full-time careers.
'I participated in the ComEd Icebox Derby in 2016 as a student, and ComEd has been a key part of my professional growth ever since,' said Evan Abraham, Engineering Design Tech at ComEd. 'I began working at ComEd full time in 2023, and I am now lucky enough to volunteer in this year's EV Rally. The program offered me a unique opportunity to expand my knowledge of STEM outside a classroom setting and gain hands-on experience in an all-girl environment. I was able to create and maintain connections with my mentors from across ComEd, and I'm proud to come full circle in this journey and give back to the talented young women participating in the program this year.'
ComEd's dedication to educating the next generation of diverse young women about STEM and zero-emissions vehicles reaches across northern Illinois. This year, over half the participants come from equity investment eligible communities (EIECs), as defined by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in Illinois. Continuing to invest in an inclusive workforce is necessary to prepare for the future of energy. Since the start of the Icebox Derby in 2014, 300 young women have participated in this program, receiving over $600,000 in scholarships from ComEd.
In addition to EV Rally, ComEd provides other STEM and scholarship programs to empower more students to pursue family-sustaining careers in STEM. Additional STEM and scholarship programs include ComEd's STEM Labs, Construct Youth Academy, Tools of the Trade and Future of Energy Scholarships.
To learn more about ComEd STEM programs, visit ComEd.com/STEM.
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