Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been recognized for their efforts to foster the next generation of clean energy leaders. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced the final winners of the HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize in the Inspire Track. This initiative is part of the American-Made program, which aims to address the growing need for a diverse and skilled clean energy workforce. Through this prize, nearly $8 million has been awarded to HBCUs to prepare students for careers in the clean energy sector.
The Inspire Track of the HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize challenged participating institutions to develop clean-energy-focused academic-break programs for K–12 and community college students. The goal was to provide early exposure to clean energy topics and STEM skills, as well as to establish connections between HBCUs and public education institutions in their communities. Ten HBCUs were selected as winners for their outstanding programming and impact on students.
Each of the ten winning HBCUs received $10,000 in addition to the $40,000 awarded in Phase 1 of the prize. These funds were used to host summer programs that focused on a variety of clean energy topics, including solar energy, battery technology, building decarbonization, and more. Here are some highlights of the programs offered by the winning institutions:
– Albany State University Solar Energy Summer Camp introduced high school students to solar energy technology through hands-on projects.
– Clark Atlanta University hosted an Introductory Battery Technology Summer Enrichment Program in partnership with NanoResearch Inc.
– Florida A&M University’s EmpowerEd program taught students about reducing emissions in buildings.
– Morris Brown College’s Future Ready Clean Energy Program covered diverse clean energy topics over eight weeks.
– Paul Quinn College’s Energized for Change program explored the intersection of clean energy and climate justice.
– Southern University and A&M College’s EMACE-Inspires Program focused on sustainable bioenergy, wind energy, solar energy, and more.
– Tennessee State University’s Energy Exploration Camp introduced students to various clean energy technology areas.
– Tuskegee University’s Mentoring into Clean Energy Program connected students to clean energy topics through interactive activities.
– University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Clean Energy Youth Development Bridge Program strengthened students’ math and science skills.
– Xavier University of Louisiana’s Program for K–12 Initiation to Clean Energy introduced students to clean energy, programming, and electronics.
These programs aimed to recruit minority students and provide them with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue careers in clean energy. By opening doors to underrepresented populations in STEM fields, these HBCUs are helping to diversify the clean energy workforce.
As the Inspire Track comes to a close, the winners of the Partnerships Track Phase 2 are eagerly awaiting the results. This track challenges HBCUs to create partnerships with government agencies, industry leaders, and other universities to support undergraduate and graduate students in clean energy education. The winners of Phase 2 will split a total prize pool of up to $4,000,000 and move on to compete in the final phase for additional funding.
The HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize is playing a crucial role in inspiring students of all ages to pursue careers in clean energy. By continuing the programming made possible through this prize, HBCUs can support even more students on their educational journey in the years to come. Subscribe to the American-Made newsletter for updates on the latest prizes and competitions in the clean energy sector.
