​BALTIMORE (Aug. 23, 2018) – As students across central Maryland head back to school, BGE reminds customers of the company's commitment to education, specifically in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), workforce development and scholarships for higher education. In addition to its own programs, BGE also supports nonprofit partners with education-focused initiatives. ​

"BGE's focus on educating young people about careers in the energy industry is one of the ways we hold true to our purpose of powering a cleaner and brighter future for our customers and communities," said Denise Galambos, vice president of human resources for BGE. "Specifically, students who pursue careers in STEM will find innovative and challenging opportunities awaiting them in the energy industry, and we want to ensure that they consider BGE as a preferred potential employer."

Since 2016, more than 400 students have participated in BGE's Smart Energy Workforce Development program. The students, from Carver Vocational Technical, Edmondson-Westside and Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School (Mervo) high schools and Green Street Academy, gain hands-on experience in their chosen fields of study, including automotive technology, pre-engineering, construction and computer-aided design (CAD). This year, 43 high school students successfully completed the internship program. Three past participants have been hired as full-time employees by BGE following their graduation from high school. An additional ten hires are anticipated for the fall.

In 2017, BGE introduced its Bright Ideas grant program which provides up to $500 for school teachers for STEM enrichment activities. To date, 54 teachers have been awarded a total of $25,000.

Also in 2017, BGE launched the BGE Scholars Program which provides up to $5,000 in annual scholarships to college students over four years.  Most of the scholarship recipients are studying STEM-related fields. In 2018, the BGE Scholars Program was renamed the BGE Frank Heintz Scholarship fund, in memory of former BGE CEO Frank Heintz, who was also a teacher in the Baltimore City School system.

Exelon, BGE's parent company, also remains committed to supporting investment in STEM education. In 2017, Exelon contributed more than $10 million to education programs and initiatives; awarded nearly 20 percent of its contributions to fields related to education and academic enrichment; and celebrated the 12-year anniversary of the "Stay in School" initiative which has helped keep more than 27,000 students on track to graduate. As part of ongoing efforts to empower young women and advance gender equality, this year the Exelon Foundation, with the UN Women HeForShe initiative, launched the STEM Innovation Leadership Academy for teen girls in Chicago and Washington, D.C., with plans to expand to additional cities where the company operates.  

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BGE, founded in 1816 as the nation's first gas utility and headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland's largest natural gas and electric utility. The company's approximately 3,200 employees are committed to safe and reliable power delivery to more than 1.28 million electric customers and more than 675,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland, as well as enhanced energy management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance. J.D. Power's 2017 Electric Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study(SM) ranked BGE highest in customer satisfaction with business electric service in the east among large utilities. The company also has an estimated annual economic impact of $5 billion of output in its service area, supporting more than 9,500 local jobs and producing $923 million in labor income. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation's leading competitive energy provider. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.