LOS ANGELES, June 10, 2018 —Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced 45 students from across its service territory as recipients of a $5,000 college scholarship from the utility. SoCalGas’ Scholarship Program is distributing scholarships totaling $225,000 this year. Since its creation in 2001, the program has provided more than $2.2 million in scholarship funding to more than 2,500 students. Recipients were evaluated on academic achievement, community involvement, and an essay on climate change. Photos of the awards luncheon for the scholars and their families are available here.
“SoCalGas’ Scholarship Program helps young people continue their education and build a pipeline of diverse future engineers and other professionals who are prepared for the competitive workforce,” said Gillian Wright, chief human resources and administrative officer for SoCalGas. “We believe that a well-educated workforce is essential for a vital and economically healthy Southern California and are thrilled to award scholarships to this group of exceptional students.”
One of the scholarship winners, Richard Aguilar, a student at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, will attend the University of California, Riverside and study mathematics.
“I am a first-generation born U.S. citizen on my mother’s side and the first in my family on both sides to be pursuing a college education,” said Aguilar. “This scholarship means the potential to pursue my dreams and the possibility of not being crippled with debt after I receive my degree.”
Alexis Schonborn, a student at Garey High School in Pomona, was also named as a scholarship recipient and will attend California State University, San Bernardino as a nursing major.
“Obtaining this scholarship means that I will be able to fulfill my dream of attending Cal State San Bernardino to get my bachelor’s degree and become a nurse who assists in saving lives,” said Schonborn. “Being a nurse would further my passion for helping others, treat patients’ health, and be a good role model for my three younger siblings.”
In addition to providing academic scholarships, SoCalGas supports technology-based learning in science, technology, engineering, and math at schools across the company’s service territory. Last year, the company provided nearly $1.3 million in grants to hundreds of educational organizations in Southern California.
SoCalGas also supports clean air, energy, and water initiatives through its Environmental Champions program. This year, the company provided grants totaling more than $500,0000 to 42 nonprofit organizations to implement projects focused on clean air, energy, or water. Since its inception in 2015, the program has awarded over 120 grants totaling more than $1.5 million.
SoCalGas is a leader in developing and investing in technologies that reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Since 1990, the company’s energy efficiency and rebate programs have reduced emissions equal to taking almost 700,000 cars off the road. SoCalGas is also working to increase the production and use of renewable natural gas, which turns methane emissions into a source of clean energy, as well as heavy-duty trucks fueled by natural gas. The latest advancements in this engine technology can lower greenhouse gas emissions from trucks by 80 percent and reduce air pollution by 90 percent.
About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas® is the largest natural gas distribution utility in the United States, providing clean, safe, affordable and reliable natural gas service to 21.7 million customers in Central and Southern California. Its service territory spans 22,000 square miles from Fresno to the Mexican border, reaching more than 550 communities through 5.9 million meters and 101,000 miles of pipeline. More than 90 percent of Southern California single-family home residents use natural gas for home heat and hot water. In addition, natural gas plays a key role in providing electricity to Californians—about 60 percent of electric power generated in the state comes from gas-fired power plants.
SoCalGas has served communities in California for 150 years and is committed to being a leader in the region’s clean energy future. The company is working to accelerate the use of renewable natural gas, a carbon-neutral or carbon-negative fuel created by capturing and conditioning greenhouse gas emissions from farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook.
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Irene Nguyen (213) 244-2442 [email protected]