Ten area female students will be awarded scholarships for their summer renewable energy studies and program experiences.

At 11 a.m. Friday the Center of Energy Education will host a celebratory luncheon at its campus located at 460 Airport Road in Roanoke Rapids to recognize their accomplishments as clean energy ambassadors.

As the second cohort of Radiant Rays, these female rising juniors and seniors spent their summer serving as part of the Empowering Young Women in Solar internship program. 

For five weeks, they represented C4EE, learning about and promoting renewable energy research, industry innovation and workforce development.

Led by two veteran Radiant Rays, these students championed climate change and environmental justice as they fulfilled the program’s mission to educate and advocate for their community about these issues.

C4EE staff and community allies also helped shape and expand their awareness of renewable energy opportunities in rural areas.

“These young women have confidently joined the energy conversation, now lending their voices and inspiring change, to help make the process more diverse and equitable – from generation to consumption,” said Executive Director Mozine Lowe. “When we traveled to Raleigh, these young women sat around the table in state government boardrooms. They met and talked to female leaders who looked like them, and these women decision makers generously shared stories of their career journeys and answered their questions. These leaders were impressed by the Radiant Rays and excited by their pursuit of clean energy paths.”

The initiative is a partnership between energy industry partners, academic institutions and nonprofit organizations who share C4EE’s goal of improving and diversifying the future of clean energy.

The learning experience gives the young women of color an opportunity to explore renewable energy career paths, network with renewable energy industry leaders, meet professional mentors and serve their communities through clean energy advocacy events. 

In addition, the program provided a range of field trips that allowed them to visit new unique settings and meet an array of workforce personnel, from tradespeople to scholars to executives.

The 2023-2024 Radiant Rays cohort receiving $1,500 scholarship awards includes: 

Weldon STEM High School: Yanara Brooks, Junior

Northern Nash High School: Makhya Jones, Senior

Halifax County Early College: Aja Madison, Jada Newsome, Akiyah Tillery, Juniors; Taniyah Alston, Senior 

Northwest High School: Aleigah Allen, Junyra Gwynn, Ja’Kyla Hedgepeth, Seniors

Roanoke Rapids Early College: Shaniah Daniels, Junior