In honor of women’s history month, IEEE PES Scholarship Plus Initiative would like to highlight an exciting trend we’ve seen in our PES Scholars! Since Scholarship Plus was started in 2011, 25% of our PES scholars have been women. In 2023, 32% of the year’s PES scholars were women. PES is committed to advancing diversity and promoting an inclusive and equitable culture in the power and energy industry, and we hope to continue this trend in our scholarship recipients.
Only 25% of the workforce in the energy industry is made up of women. While efforts to improve the diversity of the power and energy industry have been made since then, there is much more work to be done. That is why we encourage women studying electrical engineering to apply for our scholarship. Once selected, they will receive up to $7,000 over three years towards education expenses, mentoring from industry professionals, and connections to internship opportunities.
Let’s hear what some of our female recipients have to say about our scholarship:
Allison Pham
University of Texas at Dallas
2022/23 & 2023/24 PES Scholar
“The PES Plus Scholarship has been instrumental in my personal and academic growth as I pursue a degree in electrical engineering with a specialization in Renewable Energies. The mentorship program offered by PES has played a pivotal role in helping me achieve my goals and excel in the field by continually motivating me to pursue my studies and passion projects, particularly in high-powered research. This scholarship presents an excellent opportunity for students interested in a career in the power industry, as it provides valuable connections that can aid in their industry growth and development.”
Olivia Egbert
University of Colorado Boulder
2022/23 & 2023/24 PES Scholar
“This scholarship not only helped me financially but exposed me to an entire network of professionals that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. Through the mentorship of the scholarship, I had the opportunity to regularly meet with an engineer in an industry that I’m interested in and learn about day-to-day life working for a fast-paced tech start-up. His guidance and expertise were invaluable, and I’m grateful for the Scholarship Plus which made it possible!”
Karla Amaya
Cal Poly Pomona
2023/24 PES Scholar
“This scholarship has assisted me greatly in with overall cost of living and education costs including tuition. Overall, it relieved me from financial stress for my academic year. I highly encourage students to apply for the PES scholarship, especially those experiencing financial hardships. IEEE offers students great opportunities to succeed.”
Mary Peterson
Wichita State University
2022/23 & 2023/24 PES Scholar
“In addition to financial assistance, the IEEE PES Scholarship has given me a wonderful credential in power engineering that I can share with future employers. It is very meaningful to be supported as I pursue my interest in electrical power!”
More profiles about women who’ve received the PES Scholarship Plus-
Sarah Aman, South Dakota State University
Sofia Brumbaugh, Santa Clara University
Marina Chamsi, McGill University