Duke Energy grant to help promote STEM careers

Northeastern Technical College (NETC) has been awarded a grant from The Duke Energy Foundation to help increase awareness of, and engagement in, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers in the community.

The funds will be used for two summer programs specifically designed to help promote STEM careers to middle and high school aged students, and also provide counselor training to help build a better understanding of STEM career opportunities for high school graduates.

“Supporting programs like these that promote STEM careers to students early in their academic pursuits is critical to our company and the economic future of South Carolina,” said Mindy Taylor, government and community relations manager for Duke Energy.
NETC’s Camp Exploration, a summer day camp for rising seventh through tenth graders, is one of the projects the Duke Energy grant will help fund. The program will include a diverse schedule of workshops, interactive learning activities, career exploration, leadership activities and field trips to help students learn about advanced manufacturing, and STEM careers.

“We are very excited about the Duke Energy grant and what it will do to help promote STEM careers in our community,” said Sherrie Chapman, Dean of Continuing Education at NETC. “Camp Exploration will provide a fun and rewarding hands-on experience for young people, and allow them to explore potential careers.”

Camp Exploration will be held at NETC’s Cheraw campus July 10-15 and cost only $25 per student thanks to scholarships created from grant funds. For more information about this program, call 843-921-6920.

About The Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to address the needs vital to the health of its communities. Annually, the Foundation funds more than $25 million in charitable grants, with a focus on education, environment, economic and workforce development, and community impact. Duke Energy has long been committed to supporting the communities where its customers and employees live and work, and will continue to build on this legacy. For more information, visit http://www.duke-energy.com/foundation.