By: Ashmar Mandou

Forty-five young aspiring women will descend onto the Museum of Science and Industry Saturday afternoon for ComEd’s annual EV Rally Contest. ComEd’s EV Rally is a program that educates and mentors young women on electric vehicles (EVs), science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) principles and clean energy careers. The ComEd EV Rally is designed to prepare the next generation of the clean energy workforce.

“This exciting program is a fun way for teens to get out of the classroom and experience STEM in a hands-on environment surrounded by like-minded peers,” said Michelle Blaise, senior vice president of technical services at ComEd. “The clean energy transition is coming quickly, and ComEd is working to ensure that we have a diverse pipeline of talent ready to fill these new roles and support the evolving needs of our communities.”

The 45 students are working with female ComEd mentors over four build days to assemble high-tech, electric go-karts while learning about a variety of career opportunities in STEM. The program culminates on Saturday, July 29 at noon, when the girls race their completed cars at the Museum of Science and Industry.

“I am so lucky to have participated in the ComEd EV Rally. I learned more about STEM and engineering careers and bonded with girls who were also interested in science and math,” said Eliana De Bates-Aguiñaga. “Since that program, ComEd has been so generous to help with my continued education, and I look forward to working in the energy industry alongside my mentors in the coming years.” Bates-Aguiñaga, who participated in the 2022 EV Rally, is currently a sophomore at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign studying engineering. Bates-Aguiñaga is the recipient of two ComEd Future of Energy Scholarships to help fund her college education.

According to a ComEd commissioned study, it revealed that the clean energy transition could bring as many as 150,000 jobs to Illinois by 2050. Additional studies by the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition have found that while women make up 50 percent of the workforce, they only hold 27 percent of jobs in STEM-related fields in Illinois.

Young women between the ages of 13 and 18, were eligible to apply for the program; the 45 participating students will receive a $2,000 scholarship upon completion of the program. Those interested in attending the ComEd EV Rally can head to the Museum of Science and Industry on Saturday, July 29th where the race will begin at Noon. Find out more about the program by visiting ComEdEVRally.com.

Photo Credit: ComEd