MIAMI.- The energy generating company Florida Power & Light (FPL) awarded this Saturday, June 22, the NextEra Energy university scholarship for students from the Southeast National Consortium for Minorities in Engineering (SECME), to ten recent students. South Florida high school graduates, in order to support building their careers.
As part of FLP’s commitment to encourage STEM education that is based on Science, Engineering, Communication, Mathematics and Enrichment, each student and their families received college scholarship checks in the amount of $20,000 and college gifts awarded by FLP.
NextEra Energy Scholarships are intended to encourage high school seniors in the Sunshine State who wish to develop SECME skills with full-time college study at an accredited two- or four-year university, or for the next academic year.
During the event, which was held at FPL’s Manatee Lagoon in Rivera Beach, the scholarship program this year recognized students who were part of SECME’s Science, Engineering, Communication, Mathematics and Enrichment programs during their secondary studies.
McKenley Romeo, Director of Customer Solutions and Melanie Roger, Cybersecurity Strategy Manager at Florida Power & Light Company surprised the ten college-bound students, who were required to have at least one year of academic experience, with the merit award in the different SECME programs.
These scholarships favor students whose school record and GPA are not perfect. The selection of winners, who come from high schools throughout South Florida, is based on student applications that include GPA, an essay, recommendations and participation in SECME.
One of the winners, Lázaro Valdez, about to attend the University of South Florida, said: “It feels incredible. I feel like it’s a very, very heavy burden that I have lifted off my shoulders, especially from my parents. “A lot of my hard work and dedication to pursuing an academic career in the STEM field.”
Winners
Among the 10 scholarship winners were Alexis N. Idun-Ogde of American Senior High School, Hialeah; Daniel Perodin, Miami Palmetto Senior High School, Miami; Elisha M. Jackson of Palm Beach Gardens High School, Palm Beach Gardens; Gianna F. Robert, School of Advanced Studies, Homestead, and Jonathan Perez, Pahokee High School, Pahokee.
In addition to Lazaro A. Valdez, Pahokee High School, Pahokee; Rebecca Jean, Atlantic Community High School, Delray Beach; Samuel Jeanpierre, American Senior High School, Hialea; Victoria A. Hamilron, School of Advanced Studies, Homestead, and Yonel Mederos Chávez, Pahokee High School, Pahokee.
@Lydr05
Source: With information from Florida Power & Light Company
