A promising future for our communities is directly tied to a highly skilled and educated workforce. It is imperative that we give students a strong foundation to be equipped for the jobs of tomorrow. We focus our efforts on motivating students to be prepared for higher education, promoting technology-based learning and encouraging success in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Our global economy requires students to not only have a quality education, but also a strong understanding in STEM.
Some organizations and projects we supported in 2024:
SoCalGas Employee Resource Groups’ Scholarship Fundraising
In 2024, SoCalGas Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) partnered with non-profit organizations to provide scholarships to underserved students. Each ERG established specific eligibility criteria for their scholarship programs, reflecting the passions and interests of their members. Since 2022, the ERGs have collectively raised over $59,000, enabling them to award scholarships to 28 deserving students. The ERGs take great pride in their efforts to make higher education more accessible to students within the communities where they live and work.
SoCalGas Scholarship Program
Investing in the next generation through education is one of the ways SoCalGas is committed to creating a thriving community for us all. In 2024, SoCalGas awarded a total of $314,000 to 29 students in Central and Southern California to pursue higher education at four-year universities, community colleges, and trade schools. Fifteen students attending four-year universities received $5,000 each and can renew their scholarship to receive a total of $20,000 over the course of four years of study. Fourteen students with plans to attend community colleges and trade schools received $1,000 each toward eligible programs. Additionally, $140,000 was renewed to 28 scholarship recipients from 2022 and 2023. Since the program's inception in 2001, SoCalGas has awarded over $3.9 million in scholarships to 2,355 students.
USC Viterbi College of Engineering STEM Summer Camp
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) are integral components of SoCalGas’ corporate giving. We believe that early introduction is key to inspiring young, future leaders. In collaboration with the University of Southern California (USC) Viterbi School of Engineering, SoCalGas hosted the Energy of STEM Summer Camp, a free, week-long camp for 3rd-12th grade students. Seventy SoCalGas employees facilitated the camp, which brought 100 students to the USC campus. Classes led by SoCalGas engineers covered topics such as green energy, physics, electronics, coding, and forensics. Elementary students learned about hydraulic energy, gravity, windmill design, and bioenergy, while high school students focused on computer science, programming, and various analyses and scenarios in mock crime scenes. SoCalGas has hosted and supported the Energy of STEM Summer Camp since 2019.
Junior Achievement Finance Park Volunteer Event
#TeamSoCalGas volunteered at Junior Achievement of Southern California’s Finance Park, an interactive educational space of business storefronts that provides students with lessons on financial literacy. Twelfth-grade students from Centennial High School in Compton were onsite learning about managing a monthly budget and making difficult financial decisions. We also unveiled our newly revamped storefront, which is modeled after our [H2] Innovation Experience in Downey and equips the next generation of leaders with practical experiences in personal finance, sustainability, and career exploration in STEM fields. JA Finance Park hosts more than 15,000 visitors, including students and volunteers each year.
Hydrogen Grand Prix
Horizon Educational hosted the Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP) World Final in partnership with RE+ at the annual RE+ Energy Conference in Anaheim. The H2GP World Final featured the 40 best student-led teams, selected from a program that has recently expanded to over 4,000 students and hundreds of schools. This remarkable growth has been driven by sponsors worldwide who recognize the importance of building a future clean energy workforce.
SoCalGas sponsored and mentored the all-girls team from the S.T.E.M. Academy of Boyle Heights, which secured 1st place in their division. SoCalGas invests in STEM and DEI initiatives to foster a diverse and inclusive workforce capable of driving innovation and sustainability. By supporting programs that encourage underrepresented groups to pursue careers in STEM, SoCalGas aims to build a pipeline of talent equipped to tackle the energy challenges of the future.