ComEd Announces $175,000 in Scholarships Available for College and Trades Students

Local students can now apply for scholarships of up to $10,000 each to pursue STEM and trades careers in the energy sector

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ComEd today announced it is now accepting applications for $175,000 worth of college and trades scholarships made available through its Future of Energy scholarship program. Now through November 16, 2025, students who are pursuing a future career in energy, either through a trades training program or a STEM-related college major, can apply for scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.

“ComEd’s Future of Energy scholarship program allows more local students to pursue a wide range of rewarding careers in the fast-growing energy industry,” said Melissa Washington, Senior Vice President of Governmental, Regulatory and External Affairs at ComEd. “As the clean energy transformation creates new career paths, from the expansion of EVs and renewable energy sources to engineering and innovation, these scholarship investments help remove barriers, empowering more students across the region to contribute to building a cleaner future for our customers and communities.”

The Future of Energy scholarship program offers financial assistance to cover tuition and education-related expenses for both college and trade programs. The program awards up to $10,000 for college STEM programs, and up to $2,500 for trades schools, such as electrical and line work, HVAC, mechanic/electric vehicle, drafting and design, and plumbing and construction. In addition to the financial award, selected applicants enrolled in a college program may also be eligible for internship opportunities with ComEd.

“Whether it’s a trades or STEM-focused program, recipients of the ComEd Future of Energy scholarship are supported in their pursuit of further education towards meaningful careers in the high-demand energy sector,” said Mary Spruill, Executive Director of The NEED Project. “By connecting students to this resource, we are helping them stay focused on their studies and their future.”

With the clean energy transition expected to bring as many as 150,000 new jobs to Illinois by 2050, ComEd is committed to building a local and skilled talent pipeline needed to prepare for evolving energy demands. Since the launch of the Future of Energy scholarship program in 2021, ComEd has awarded over $1 million in scholarships to help remove the financial burden for local students pursuing careers in the energy field. The program has reached 180 students to date, reflecting the communities ComEd serves across northern Illinois.

Emilio Garza, a 2024 Future of Energy scholar, and now ComEd engineering technician, shares how the scholarship opened doors for him at the company. “In addition to helping with tuition, the program led to a summer internship at ComEd before I graduated. That experience helped me strengthen my soft skills, like networking and interviewing, which ultimately resulted in a job offer during my final semester. It lifted a huge weight off my shoulders, and now I’m proud to be working at a major company that provides an essential service.”

To qualify for scholarships, students must be enrolled in an eligible two or four-year college or trade program, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.8, and submit an application along with two references. Find more information or apply for the ComEd Future of Energy scholarship at ComEd.com/FutureofEnergy.

The Future of Energy scholarship program is one of many ways ComEd is investing to prepare communities for the array of careers in the clean energy industry. Each year, ComEd workforce development and education programs reach more than 1,000 local residents. For more information on ComEd's workforce and education programs, please visit ComEd.com/CleanEnergyJobs.

About ComEd

ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 200 company and one of the nation’s largest utility companies, serving more than 10.7 million electricity and natural gas customers. 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.