Young Women in Illinois Can Now Apply to Build, Race Electric Powered Go-Carts at ComEd EV Rally

All-girl event offers $2000 scholarship, STEM experience and professional networking for 45 teens

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ComEd is excited to announce the return of its signature science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program for future female STEM leaders, the ComEd EV Rally. Young women in Illinois can now apply to participate in the annual summer event, where teams of teens build and race electric go-carts. This year, 45 teens will have the opportunity to work with women from ComEd to explore STEM career opportunities and build their STEM experience. Since the program’s inception in 2014, over 250 teens have participated in EV Rally or its predecessor program, the ComEd IceBox Derby.

The application is open to any female Illinois resident between the ages of 13 and 18. Applications are available at ComEd.com/STEM. Applications will close at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 1.

“The ComEd EV Rally will stretch students’ imaginations and test their problem-solving skills, all while giving them the thrill of competition,” said Gil C. Quiniones, president and CEO of ComEd. “Young people have a crucial role to play in the clean energy transition, and we are excited to connect EV Rally participants with talented ComEd professionals who can support them on their journey to a successful, rewarding and lucrative career in a STEM field.”

ComEd is committed to developing the next generation of STEM leaders by providing opportunities for the local high school students to build the experience and confidence in the space as they chart their own career paths. To be successful at reaching our clean energy goals and maintaining our award-winning grid reliability, the future STEM workforce must reflect the communities ComEd serves. Programs like ComEd’s STEM Labs help inspire more local talent in northern Illinois to pursue STEM education that will not only lead to lucrative careers, but also support local communities.

Selected participants will work and learn from ComEd mentors, connect with peers from other opportunities and apply their STEM knowledge while building an electric vehicle (EV). The July program will conclude with a once-in-a-lifetime experience where participants will race their vehicles at the iconic Griffin Museum of Science and Industry on Saturday, July 26. At the completion of the program, each participant will receive a $2,000 scholarship to support their ongoing STEM education pursuits.

While making up over half of the students who graduate from college, only 28 percent of STEM professionals are women, according to a study from MIT. By providing female teens the opportunity for hands-on STEM experience and the support of female mentors from ComEd, the utility is taking steps to close the gender gap in the STEM workforce.

With increased electrification, data and technology in our lives, STEM career opportunities will continue to grow throughout northern Illinois, providing family-sustaining careers for many developing professionals. ComEd EV Rally is one example of how ComEd is engaging with STEM-interested students to prepare them to serve as the next generation of leaders in the clean-energy transition. Additional STEM and scholarships programs include ComEd’s STEM Labs, Construct Youth Academy, Tools of the Trade and Future of Energy Scholarships. These programs, like the EV Rally, all focus on giving students greater exposure to the possibilities of STEM.

Learn more about this program and apply at ComEd.com/STEM.

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ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 200 energy company serving more than 10.7 million electricity and natural gas customers—the largest number of customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 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, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.