NEW GLOUCESTER, Maine--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Scholarships from the Avangrid Foundation and Fundación Iberdrola España will help 13 students conduct post-graduate research into energy, the environment and data science.
The recipients will receive grants totaling $750,300 that cover the students’ enrollment, plus a stipend, as they pursue research at universities in Connecticut, Maine, New York, Oregon, and Edinburgh, Scotland.
“Understanding and meeting the world’s energy needs, and protecting the environment, are challenges that are closely linked,” said Robert D. Kump, president of Avangrid Foundation. “This scholarship program will help to ensure that some of the brightest young minds are focused on finding solutions to these issues.”
The Avangrid Foundation is dedicated to supporting projects and organizations that enhance the quality of life in communities served by AVANGRID companies. Fundación Iberdrola España is the charitable foundation of Iberdrola, S.A., AVANGRID’s corporate affiliate.
“I am thankful to the Avangrid Foundation for enabling me to pursue my graduate studies and research on offshore renewable energy,” said Caitlyn Elizabeth Clark, who is pursuing her studies at Oregon State University. “Through my research and the Avangrid Foundation’s support, I plan to advance computational tools that will enable industry members, policy makers and the public to make more informed, responsible decisions as the U.S. and the world move towards greater offshore renewable energy development.”
Global energy leader Iberdrola initially established the global scholarship program in 2010 to support graduate studies in the field of energy, with a special focus on renewable energy development, environmental protection, climate change and energy efficiency.
Since the program started, Iberdrola and its charitable foundations in Spain, the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico and Brazil have awarded nearly 600 scholarships to students from around the world. In 2016, the foundations awarded 142 scholarships for the 2016-2017 academic year, worth more than $3.9 million. That’s four times more scholarships than the program’s inaugural year, 2010, and six times the value.
This year’s recipients include:
Binghamton University, New York, USA
- Edward Cheswick of Kings Park, New York
- Mark A. Freithaler of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Oregon State University, Oregon, USA
- Caitlyn Elizabeth Clark of Lake Oswego, Oregon
Rochester Institute of Technology, New York, USA
- Jamie Sánchez-Ferragut Ardura of Madrid, Spain (funded by Fundación Iberdrola España)
- Marta De Guzman of Málaga, Spain (funded by Fundación Iberdrola España)
- Sergio Mendez Delegido of Torre Pacheco, Spain (funded by Fundación Iberdrola España)
University of Connecticut, USA
- Alexandra Longacre of Griswold, Connecticut
University of Edinburgh, Scotland
- Anna Guasco of Ventura, California
University of Maine, USA
- Gregory McDonald of North Syracuse, New York
- Michael Choiniere of Garland, Maine
University of Rochester, New York, USA
- David Villarreal Sardina of Guardo, Spain (funded by Fundación Iberdrola España)
- Javier Yuguero Nadal of Madrid, Spain (funded by Fundación Iberdrola España)
- Ulrik Soderstrom of Rochester, New York
AVANGRID is the parent company of NYSEG and RG&G in New York; Central Maine Power and Maine Natural Gas in Maine; and United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas in Connecticut. It is also the corporate parent of Avangrid Renewables, with headquarters in Portland, Oregon.
About Avangrid Foundation: Avangrid Foundation coordinates and funds energy sustainability, environmental, social responsibility and educational programs in areas where AVANGRID and its subsidiaries operate. For more information, please visit our website: www.avangrid.com.
About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE:AGR) is a diversified energy and utility company with $30 billion in assets and operations in 25 states. The company operates regulated utilities, and renewable electricity generation, through two primary lines of business. Avangrid Networks includes eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving 3.1 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables operates 6.3 gigawatts of electricity capacity, primarily through wind power, in states across the U.S. AVANGRID employs 7,000 people. The company was formed by a merger between Iberdrola USA and UIL Holdings in 2015. IBERDROLA S.A. (Madrid:IBE), a worldwide leader in the energy industry, owns 81.5% of AVANGRID. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.
The following quotes from scholarship recipients are available for the media to use:
I am so grateful to the AVANGRID Foundation, not only for the
scholarship, which will allow me to focus on my master’s degree without
the financial burden, but also for the honor and privilege of meeting
the King and Queen of Spain, and the President of Iberdrola in Madrid. I
will carry this life-changing experience with me throughout my career.
This experience was “eye-opening”, and has reinforced my desire to focus
on researching alternative energy sources and creating a greener future.
Please accept my deepest appreciation and gratitude.
—
Edward Cheswick, Binghamton University, New York, USA
AVANGRID Foundation has powered homes, hospitals, and minds with
their power. Now, I am proud to say they have also lit my soul alight,
and I am eager for more! The AVANGRID Foundation has set a beautiful
example of what it means to be a citizen of the world, and I hope to
spread their outstanding values as I continue my journey.
—
Mark A. Freithaler, Binghamton University, New York
I am thankful to the Avangrid Foundation for enabling me to pursue my
graduate studies and research on offshore renewable energy. Through my
research and Avangrid’s support, I plan to advance computational tools
that will enable industry members, policy makers, and the public to make
more informed, responsible decisions as the U.S. and the world move
towards greater offshore renewable energy development.
— Caitlyn
Elizabeth Clark, Oregon State University, Oregon
I am very grateful for this scholarship. It is a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity, studying in the Rochester Institute of Technology. My
Master of Engineering in Sustainable Engineering program will help me to
acquire the knowledge, innovative skills and experience in order to
succeed in today's developing energetic world.
— Jamie
Sánchez-Ferragut Ardura, Rochester Institute of Technology, New York
Iberdrola has not only given me the opportunity of taking a leap
in my career, but also offers me a unique experience abroad — while
promoting the changes that we, as a generation, seek to implement in the
world.
— Marta Borrego De Guzman, Rochester Institute
of Technology, New York
The Iberdrola Scholarship represents to me an incredible opportunity
to increase my knowledge in the sustainability area in one of the top
universities in the USA. In addition I am very glad for this scholarship
as it will represent a major step in my career and also the recognition
of one of the most important companies in the renewable energies area.”
—
Sergio Mendez Delegido, Rochester Institute of Technology, New
York
I am extremely grateful to Iberdrola and Avangrid Foundation for the
scholarship, which will provide me with the opportunity to focus on
learning and research during my studies in Materials Science and
Engineering. I am looking forward to diving into research in Materials
Science and Engineering and discovering ways in which Materials Science
can be used to protect the environment and to conserve energy.
—
Alexandra Longacre, University of Connecticut
The Avangrid Foundation Scholarship generously gives me the
outstanding opportunity to pursue a master of science in Environment,
Culture and Society at the University of Edinburgh. As a student of the
humanities and social sciences, I am grateful to receive this
scholarship, not only for allowing me to pursue this master’s degree
abroad, but also for validating the importance of humanistic and
socio-cultural inquiry in shaping a more just, equitable and sustainable
world.
— Anna Guasco, University of Edinburgh
The scholarships that are provided by the Avangrid Foundation for
postgraduate education are integral in influencing sustainable changes
to the energy industry today. Without the help of these scholarships,
many students would not have the freedom to strictly pursue their
interests. I am so thankful for the opportunities this scholarship has
afforded me thus far, as well as the opportunities it will present
throughout my time at the University of Maine and even after.
—
Gregory McDonald, University of Maine
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity Avangrid Foundation has
granted me through this scholarship. The funding will allow me to
channel all my energy and focus into my research without the distraction
of a part-time job. It will help me produce high quality work that will
not only advance my progress towards a graduate degree, but also advance
our progress toward cleaner energy.
— Michael
Choiniere, University of Maine
A dream came true with this Iberdrola scholarship. Thanks to
Iberdrola, I will be able to pursue my studies in renewable energy in
USA, and I am completely sure it will help me devote my future
professional life in the area I always wanted.
— David
Villarreal Sardina, University of Rochester
The Iberdrola scholarship represents a great opportunity for young
people to evolve in the academic field. Having the chance of studying a
master's degree in the USA is, without any doubt, the best way of
preparing for the future. Furthermore, the master I have chosen, Master
of science in technical entrepreneurship and management at the
University of Rochester, is the one I think fits the best with an
engineering profile: it combines the technical aspects with the fields
of markets, economics, initiative, management and leadership.
—
Javier Yuguero Nadal, University of Rochester
The Avangrid Foundation has empowered me to pursue a Master's Degree
in Data Science at the University of Rochester. Data Science is the
intersection of computer science and computational statistics with
multidisciplinary applications in data mining, environmental modeling,
database systems, energy system organization and more. I greatly
appreciate this scholarship as it is pivotal to my academic career and
growth as a leader!
— Ulrik Soderstrom, University of
Rochester, N.Y.