Eleven area female students will be awarded scholarships for their summer renewable energy studies and program experiences.
At 11 a.m. Thursday, the Center of Energy Education will host on its campus at 460 Airport Road in Roanoke Rapids, a celebratory luncheon to recognize their accomplishments as clean energy ambassadors.
As the third cohort of Radiant Rays, these young females 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.
The Radiant Ray celebration provides a stage for the young women to showcase their educational experience, the opportunities available to them and the potential of their professional success. 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.
C4EE staff and community allies also helped shape and expand the students’ awareness of renewable energy opportunities in rural areas.
Three veteran Radiant Rays from previous cohorts guided participants as they fulfilled the program’s mission of championing clean energy, climate change and environmental justice advocacy.
To recognize their journey, Dr. Allison Matthews, social justice champion and executive grant writer at North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality, will serve as keynote speaker to share her experiences of amplifying conversations to drive meaningful change through community collaboration.
At NC DEQ, Matthews submits formula and competitive grants — from $3 million to $280 million — funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors Act.
She also leads efforts to develop statewide stakeholder engagement plans across Solar for All, HOMES/HEAR and weatherization assistance programs in the state.
Prior to her work at NC DEQ, Matthews served as executive director of the Gilead COMPASS Faith Coordinating Center in the School of Divinity at Wake Forest University, where she granted more than $3 million in funding to address HIV stigma in Black faith spaces in the United States South.
In that role, she developed the Black Faith & HIV Initiative and collaborated with AIDSVu.org to create the first-ever national database of faith-based institutions providing HIV programming and services.
Skilled in artificial intelligence, digital marketing, and crowdsourcing, she advocates for a range of DEIB — diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging — campaigns to empower underrepresented groups across the state.
Mathews is also a two-time TEDx speaker about her HIV cure research work.
“Our Radiant Rays give passion and light to conversations that impact their communities and beyond,” said Executive Director Mozine Lowe. “Though this summer experience, these young women are inspiring change and harnessing transformative futures.”
The 2024 Radiant Rays cohort receiving $1,500 scholarship awards includes:
Halifax County Early College: Discia Ashe, Giselle Garcia-Garcia, Jakaylah Powell, Akiyah Tillery, Zakia Tillery — seniors
Roanoke Rapids High School: Kaziah Vick — junior — Taniyah Edmonds, Kayla Whitfield — graduate
Roanoke Valley Early College: Natahlya Debro — junior
Southeast Prep Collegiate Academy: Kayla Clark — junior; Jamiya Velasquez — senior
