Working With Youth To Spark Interest in Energy Careers
Duke Energy's Youth Energy Academy (YEA) is a career readiness program aimed at introducing students from diverse backgrounds to opportunities in the energy sector. The initiative, which started over a decade ago, educates 8th to 12th graders about viable, high-paying jobs in the industry through hands-on activities and demonstrations.
YEA has grown from eight students initially to now covering six regions in Florida, including partnerships with utilities, community colleges, and nonprofits. The Duke Energy Foundation has provided over $120,000 in funding since 2016. The program focuses on STEM careers and aims to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within the energy sector.
Participants learn about various roles beyond lineworkers, including engineers, arborists, chemists, and drone operators. The academy's success is attributed to its ability to show students that their goals are attainable by meeting professionals who look like them.
Il Youth Energy Academy (YEA) di Duke Energy è un programma di preparazione professionale che ha come obiettivo introdurre studenti provenienti da contesti diversi alle opportunità nel settore energetico. L'iniziativa, avviata oltre un decennio fa, educa studenti delle classi dall'8° al 12° anno riguardo a lavori ben retribuiti e sostenibili nel settore attraverso attività pratiche e dimostrazioni.
Lo YEA è cresciuto da otto studenti iniziali a coprire ora sei regioni della Florida, inclusi partenariati con aziende di servizi, college comunitari e organizzazioni no-profit. La Duke Energy Foundation ha fornito oltre $120.000 di finanziamenti dal 2016. Il programma si concentra sulle carriere STEM e mira a promuovere diversità, equità e inclusione all'interno del settore energetico.
I partecipanti apprendono riguardo vari ruoli oltre a quelli dei lavoratori della linea, tra cui ingegneri, arboristi, chimici e operatori di droni. Il successo dell'accademia è attribuito alla sua capacità di dimostrare agli studenti che i loro obiettivi sono raggiungibili attraverso l'incontro con professionisti che assomigliano a loro.
La Youth Energy Academy (YEA) de Duke Energy es un programa de preparación profesional que busca introducir a estudiantes de diversos orígenes en oportunidades del sector energético. La iniciativa, que comenzó hace más de una década, educa a estudiantes de 8.º a 12.º grado sobre empleos viables y bien remunerados en la industria mediante actividades prácticas y demostraciones.
YEA ha crecido de ocho estudiantes iniciales a abarcar ahora seis regiones en Florida, incluyendo asociaciones con empresas de servicios, colegios comunitarios y organizaciones sin fines de lucro. La Duke Energy Foundation ha proporcionado más de $120,000 en financiamiento desde 2016. El programa se centra en carreras STEM y tiene como objetivo avanzar en la diversidad, equidad e inclusión dentro del sector energético.
Los participantes aprenden acerca de varios roles más allá de los trabajadores de línea, incluyendo ingenieros, arboristas, químicos y operadores de drones. El éxito de la academia se atribuye a su capacidad para mostrar a los estudiantes que sus metas son alcanzables al conocer a profesionales que se parecen a ellos.
Duke Energy의 Youth Energy Academy (YEA)는 다양한 배경을 가진 학생들에게 에너지 산업에서의 기회를 소개하는 경력 준비 프로그램입니다. 10년 이상 지속된 이 이니셔티브는 8학년에서 12학년 학생들에게 유망하고 고소득인 직업에 대해 교육하며, 실습 활동과 시연을 통해 이를 진행합니다.
YEA는 처음 8명의 학생에서 시작해 현재 플로리다의 6개 지역을 포함하는 프로그램으로 성장했으며, 유틸리티 업체, 지역 대학 및 비영리 단체와 협력하고 있습니다. Duke Energy Foundation은 2016년 이후로 $120,000 이상의 자금을 지원했습니다. 이 프로그램은 STEM 경력에 초점을 맞추고 있으며 에너지 산업 내에서 다양성, 형평성 및 포용성을 증진하는 것을 목표로 하고 있습니다.
참가자들은 라인 작업자를 넘어 다양한 역할, 즉 엔지니어, 나무 의사, 화학자 및 드론 운영자에 대해 배우게 됩니다. 아카데미의 성공은 전문인들과 만나며 학생들이 자신의 목표를 달성할 수 있음을 보여주는 능력에 기인하고 있습니다.
L'Youth Energy Academy (YEA) de Duke Energy est un programme de préparation à la carrière visant à introduire des étudiants issus de milieux divers aux opportunités du secteur de l'énergie. Cette initiative, qui a commencé il y a plus d'une décennie, éduque des élèves de la 8e à la 12e année sur des emplois viables et bien rémunérés dans l'industrie grâce à des activités pratiques et des démonstrations.
Le YEA est passé de huit étudiants au départ à maintenant couvrir six régions de la Floride, obtenant des partenariats avec des entreprises de services publics, des collèges communautaires et des organismes à but non lucratif. La Duke Energy Foundation a fourni plus de 120 000 $ de financement depuis 2016. Le programme se concentre sur les carrières STEM et vise à promouvoir la diversité, l'équité et l'inclusion au sein du secteur de l'énergie.
Les participants apprennent divers rôles au-delà des travailleurs de ligne, y compris ingénieurs, arboristes, chimistes et opérateurs de drones. Le succès de l'académie est attribué à sa capacité à montrer aux étudiants que leurs objectifs sont atteignables en rencontrant des professionnels qui leur ressemblent.
Die Youth Energy Academy (YEA) von Duke Energy ist ein Programm zur Berufsvorbereitung, das darauf abzielt, Schüler aus unterschiedlichen Hintergründen mit den Chancen im Energiesektor vertraut zu machen. Die Initiative, die vor über einem Jahrzehnt begann, bildet Schüler von der 8. bis zur 12. Klasse über zukunftssichere, gut bezahlte Jobs in der Branche durch praktische Aktivitäten und Demonstrationen aus.
YEA hat sich von ursprünglich acht Schülern auf jetzt sechs Regionen in Florida ausgeweitet, einschließlich Partnerschaften mit Versorgungsunternehmen, Community Colleges und gemeinnützigen Organisationen. Die Duke Energy Foundation hat seit 2016 über 120.000 USD an Fördermitteln bereitgestellt. Das Programm konzentriert sich auf STEM-Karrieren und zielt darauf ab, Diversität, Gleichheit und Inklusion im Energiesektor voranzubringen.
Teilnehmer lernen verschiedene Rollen jenseits von Leitungsarbeitern kennen, darunter Ingenieure, Baumdienstleister, Chemiker und Drohnenoperatoren. Der Erfolg der Akademie wird der Fähigkeit zugeschrieben, den Schülern zu zeigen, dass ihre Ziele erreichbar sind, indem sie Fachleute treffen, die ihnen ähnlich sehen.
- Duke Energy is actively investing in future workforce development through the Youth Energy Academy
- The program has expanded to cover six regions in Florida, indicating successful growth
- Partnerships with utilities, community colleges, and nonprofits enhance the program's reach and effectiveness
- The Duke Energy Foundation has provided over $120,000 in funding since 2016
- YEA promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in the energy sector
- None.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 6, 2024 / Duke Energy
Youth Energy Academy proactively gains the interest of an emerging workforce by educating students about viable, good-paying jobs
By Page Leggett | illumination Contributor
Unless students have a family member who works at a utility, they may not think of Duke Energy as a viable career path. It's the sort of thing that motivates Melvin Philpot - both in his 43 years at the company and in his role as community outreach committee chair for the American Association of Black Engineers' (AABE) Florida chapter.
"When middle schoolers walk down their streets and see lineworkers atop utility poles, we want them to think of the energy industry for potentially high-earnings jobs," said Philpot, products and services manager in Lake Mary, Fla.
More than a decade ago, Philpot attended an AABE-sponsored youth career forum with Duke Energy Managing Director Malcolm Barnes; they liked the idea of introducing students from diverse neighborhoods to viable, good-paying jobs in the energy sector and wondered if Duke Energy could offer something similar.
Michael Lewis, then-EVP of a Duke Energy predecessor company, encouraged them to add a craft and technical component to the curriculum for students who may not be college-bound. And with a
Through hands-on activities and live demonstrations, YEA proactively gains the interest of an emerging workforce by educating young people about the opportunities that exist. The annual career readiness program also aims to advance diversity, equity and inclusion within the energy sector and related STEM fields by engaging eighth through 12th graders who may not have the same opportunities as other students.
"When you're 15 and 16, you're sort of looking for someone to tell you what the future holds. That's where we come in," said Chiquita Clark, supervisor of South Coastal Work Management at Duke Energy's Clearwater Operations Center. "We can turn to our community's youth and say: We're people who look like you. Let us show you what we do, and if it looks interesting, we can help get you here."
So many career paths
Clark, a member of AABE Florida, helped plan the 2024 St. Pete Youth Energy Academy, hosted at a Duke Energy power plant in Bartow, Fla. Close to 60 students - the maximum - attended the two-day event.
They heard, by video, from Erin Jackson, a former STEM student and speed skater from Ocala, Fla., who competed in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Jackson is a former AABE scholarship recipient who became the first Black woman to win a Winter Olympic gold in an individual sport in 2022; before that, she earned an engineering degree from the University of Florida.
Other sessions included a plant tour, "A Day as a Line Tech" workshop, an electric vehicle (EV) demonstration and a career panel that brought together a diverse group of employees at all stages of their careers.
The power of partnerships
YEA started small; the first academy attracted eight students. Vice President of Operations Dave Maxon encouraged Duke Energy's African American employee resource group (ERG) to help develop the concept. Then Mikel Gordon, supervisor for energy efficiency services, joined the effort.
Bringing in partners to provide financial or in-kind support has helped YEA expand. Duke Energy and other neighboring utilities have signed on to help, as have community colleges, schools and nonprofits across the state.
Now it's grown geographically to include six regions, including Ocala and Tallahassee. Three years ago, an academy was started in Lake Wales, Fla., at the majority Hispanic McLaughlin Academy of Excellence - the only remaining public middle school in Polk County.
"YEA would not have grown as it has - or been as successful - without its primary funder," Philpot said. "And that's the Duke Energy Foundation."
Since 2016, Duke Energy and its Foundation have provided over
‘Their goals are attainable'
At St. Petersburg College (SPC) - another YEA partner - more than 115 students in eighth through 12th grades have expressed an interest in STEM careers. Most are from underserved or low-income neighborhoods and are part of the College Reach Out Program (CROP), which aims to show these students they are college material, said Program Coordinator Keisha Blue.
That message is reinforced for CROP students who attend the academy. "Our students are meeting people who look like them," Blue said. "They see themselves reflected back - and they get to see that their goals are attainable."
Nearly all high school students who participate in CROP will graduate from high school, Blue said, and many will enroll at SPC.
"We're dedicated to staying at the forefront of technology," said Professor Chad Mairn, founder of SPC's Innovation Lab. "We introduce artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, cybersecurity and many other emerging technologies to support and enhance the curriculum, which is relevant to contemporary STEM careers but also anticipates and prepares students for careers of the future - even careers that may not exist yet."
It's what you know and who you know
Some of the jobs YEA students may land after high school or college are unheard of now. Virtual reality developers, drone operators and sustainability managers didn't exist a decade or so ago, and all are in demand today.
Bottom line: Students need to be ready for the STEM jobs that have yet to be created. And they need teachers, mentors, role models.
Philpot knows that mentors matter. As one of seven siblings from a single-parent family, he was going to work on railroad cars until a counselor encouraged him to go to community college. He earned his degree at night while working in customer service - "the one job that gives you a full view of the entire company.
"Working on the Youth Energy Academy has been gratifying because, I guess, I've helped to plant some seeds and be an ambassador for a great company," Philpot said.
Clark, too, likes promoting Duke Energy. She joined the company as a contractor in 2014 and as a full-timer the following year. "From the beginning, it's been like a big family," she said. "The company is invested in developing employees. All you really have to do is have a desire to succeed."
The department you start in, she'll often tell students, doesn't have to be the department you stay in.
"At Duke Energy, you can start as an admin or office manager and progress to a community relations manager," she said. "We want students to understand just how many options they have here."
When these students see a diverse workforce - and a diverse leadership team - they realize there's a place for them at Duke Energy, too. Perhaps as a lineworker.
But not necessarily.
"Many students assume a Duke Energy career refers only to lineworkers," Clark said. "And while we do talk about their indispensable work, we also showcase engineers, arborists, chemists, drone operators, helicopter pilots, the corporate communications team. While lineworkers play an essential role in keeping the lights on, there are so many other functions that help ensure our customers are served and our communities are thriving."
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