by BREINA BURNETT, SCOOP INTERN
The fifth annual Exelon Foundation STEM Leadership Academy week-long program opened its doors at University City Science/Drexel University to 60 girl high school students from schools in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties on Sunday, July 23, 2023. The participants applied to the academy with an interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and quickly learned that the program was not only about STEM; but more so about gaining a work ethic, class etiquette, networking skills, and building their resume.
During this program, participants were paired with girls from all over Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Delaware and were able to lean on adult and student mentors throughout the week. They also had the opportunity to meet different business and community leaders such as the president and CEO of Exelon, Calvin Butler; the CEO of PECO, Michael A. Innocenzo; Chief operating officer, Nicole LeVine; Charrise R. Lillie and other board of directors.
“I attended the academy last year and had a fabulous experience; that is why I’m back this year as a mentor. I truly believe in the Exelon Foundation, the resources that Exelon provides allow students to have a brighter future and expose them to many areas of STEM that they may not have seen before. As mentors, we are trying to show that it’s not impossible for females to be able to do well in this field— I do think it’s a phenomenal opportunity, the fact that they get to experience college life, residence halls, etc.” said Aditi Mangal, STEM Academy student mentor.
The Exelon Foundation Stem Leadership Academy
The Exelon Foundation STEM Leadership Academy is a free, week-long in-person event for female high school students in the 10th or 11th grade. This academy makes its mark each year in Chicago, Illinois, Maryland, Washington D.C, and Pennsylvania. Applicants had to complete the application and submit a recommendation letter and other documents. About 200 girls applied to the program, and 60 girls were selected. The participants learned from women working in STEM and business leaders who served as mentors throughout the program, visited energy facilities, explored sustainability, energy efficiency, renewable as a stepping stool to encourage women to pursue a career in STEM and to bridge the gender gap of women in STEM. The academy’s mission is “To focus on the critical state of the climate crisis, its growing impacts, and the disproportionate ways it is affecting the most under-served populations.”
“In 2023, the gender gap in STEM remains significant, with women making up only 28% of the STEM workforce.
i. If we look at places worldwide where we might hope to find better news, the statistics give us pause. The figure stands at 24% in the United States, ii. 17% in the European Union, iii. 16% in Japan, iv. and 14% in India.”
https://professionalprograms.mit.edu/blog/leadership/the-gender-gap-in-stem/#:~:text=In%202023%2C%20the%20gender%20gap,28%25%20of%20the%20STEM%20workforce.&text=If%20we%20look%20at%20places,iv%20and%2014%25%20in%20India.
Some of the participants expressed how they love STEM and that they plan to work in the STEM field. Others shared that they didn’t have any exposure to STEM in school, but they were willing to explore STEM.
“I don’t have a STEM program at my school, so I’m glad I have the opportunity at this academy. Here it’s more diverse, and I’m learning how to network with different types of people from different areas in Philadelphia and outside of Philadelphia. Also, my mentors showed me how to network with people who have more experience than me other than peers my age,” said Alanna Walker-Kepler, a participant at the Exelon Foundation STEM Academy from Friere charter school.
The Agenda
The ladies were productive each day during the program. There were a series of events that were prominent to educational sessions, improving leadership and professional skills, and completing different group challenges each day. The highlights throughout the week were the following: meet your roommate, Exelon 101 Bingo, Circuit Building, Baseload Balance, Infrastructure Scavenger Hunt with PECO employees, Phillie’s game field trip, Wind Turbine challenge, dinner with different executives, and more.
One of the group’s challenges was to create a wind turbine. They used different reusable materials to create a wind turbine and learned how to explore renewable energy by building wind turbines to produce maxim electrical output. Some students had a successful turnout on the first try, but others went through trial and error at the last minute; however, they persevered and solved the problem.
Aside from the other smaller challenges, six teams had to work on a larger project that had to be presented to a panel of judges from Exelon and PECO by the end of the program. The objective of the project was for “teams of students to search and identify the problem in the assigned geographic area and create solutions with present-day technology and materials. Each geographic area is served by PECO and currently facing challenges associated with severe weather, flooding, extreme temperatures, or an increase in pests associated with climate change.”
“The students are dedicated to their projects, so much that they work while they are eating at lunchtime. We push them to eat, but they get so passionate about their projects,” said Mae Morrow, an adult Exelon Foundation STEM leadership academy mentor.
In addition, to the STEM assignments, students attended a panel discussion with the President and Chief Executive Officer of Exelon, Calvin Butler, and Nicole LeVine on Wednesday, July 26, 2023; Butler shared encouraging words, his journey, trials and tribulations, and more. “It is important to share knowledge. I don’t pretend to know it all, but that is why you have to surround yourself with the right people and hire the best talent,” said Butler.
Nicole LeVine, who interviewed Calvin Butler, shared what it means to be the first woman to be selected as the Chief Operating Officer at PECO and what challenges she faced by being a woman in the STEM field.
“ I always felt like I needed to know and work more than my male peers.– Always tell yourself you belong, and you can do this because you can,” said LeVine.
The week ended with STEM students presenting the projects they worked on all week and were judged by PECO and Exelon employees.
We hope our readers are enjoying the STEM articles as well as understanding what STEM is and how STEM education is needed in all Philadelphia schools, bringing early exposure to future leaders to address real-world issues harming our community today and breaking the barriers.
PECO, founded in 1881, is Pennsylvania’s largest electric and natural gas delivery company. Headquartered in Philadelphia, PECO delivers energy to nearly 1.7 million electric customers and more than 548,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania. The company’s 2,900 employees are dedicated to the safe and reliable delivery of electricity and natural gas as well as enhanced energy management conservation, environmental stewardship, and community assistance. PECO is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (Nasdaq: EXC), a Fortune 250 company and the nation’s largest energy delivery company, serving more than 10 million customers through six fully regulated transmission and distribution utilities. For more information, visit PECO.com, and connect with the company on Facebook and Twitter.
