New York Power Authority Awards $10,000 College Scholarships to Students Seeking Clean Energy Careers

For Immediate Release: June 10, 2025

Contact: media.inquiries@nypa.gov

 

 

New York Power Authority Awards $10,000 College Scholarships to Students Seeking Clean Energy Careers 

 

Future Energy Leaders Scholarship Helps Prime Energy Industry Workforce Pipeline with Diverse, Well-Qualified Professionals 

 

See Photos Here

Meet the Talented Scholarship Recipients Here

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—To encourage students from all parts of New York to pursue STEM careers, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) today announced $10,000 college scholarships for 20 academically accomplished New York high school students. NYPA’s Future Energy Leaders scholarship program provides support to high-achieving students of color interested in four-year degrees that will prepare them for careers in the energy industry. In total, NYPA has awarded college scholarships to 70 students statewide since the program began in 2021.

  

"The Power Authority is committed to cultivating a skilled clean energy workforce and ensuring a pipeline of qualified professionals who can bring innovative solutions to the challenges of energy production, transmission and sustainability," said NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. "By supporting STEM education among students of color in environmental justice communities through the Future Energy Leaders program, NYPA can help diversify the energy industry and increase the number of highly educated and career-ready professionals that will make up the next generation of engineers, scientists and technologists." 

 

This year’s recipients were inducted at the 2025 Future Energy Leaders Conference on June 7 at the IBM Center in Armonk. The event, themed “Eyes on the Prize – Aspirations. Resilience. Perseverance,” included remarks from Driscoll and messages of support from NYPA trustees Bethaida Gonzales and Laurie Wheelock, NYPA program representatives and Donald Ruff, CEO, Eagle Academy Foundation.

 

“The New York Power Authority is at the forefront of building a robust and inclusive clean energy workforce by empowering students from underserved communities who show passion for STEM careers with tools and support,” said NYPA Trustee Bethaida Gonzalez. "The Future Energy Leaders scholarship program enables students to unlock their full potential. Through this scholarship, these rising leaders have the opportunity to individually achieve their academic goals and to be part of a more diverse and innovative utility industry for decades to come.

 

“Engaging students from disadvantaged communities in New York’s energy transformation is not just a commitment—it's a necessity for building a sustainable and equitable future,” said NYPA Trustee Laurie Wheelock. “Through NYPA’s Future Energy Leaders scholarship program, the Power Authority is investing in the next generation of innovators and leaders who will help drive progress as we transition to cleaner energy resources and implement positive change in their communities benefitting all New Yorkers.” 

 

The scholarships are awarded to academically accomplished and underrepresented high school seniors who are enrolled in a four-year college for the semester immediately following graduation with the intention of pursuing STEM related majors.  They must reside in New York State, be in good academic standing, and express an interest in working toward careers related to the energy industry.

Meet the Scholars

This year NYPA partnered with five community and industry organizations that were responsible for program administration, including recruitment of qualified candidates, evaluation of applications and final selection of scholarship awardees. The 2025 awardees are as follows:

 

Eagle Academy Foundation

• Ziara Bey, Eagle Academy for Young Men in the Bronx, to study computer science at SUNY Albany

• Khalil Alaby, Eagle Academy, Southeast Queens, to study computer programming and information systems at SUNY Farmingdale State College

• Jamir Hamilton-Stewart, Eagle Academy—Ocean Hill, to study environmental engineering at University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill

• Nile Edwards, Eagle Academy—Harlem, to study business administration at University at Binghamton

• Mouhamed Diallo, Eagle Academy—Harlem to student finance at SUNY Albany

• Jerry Jackson Jr., Eagle Academy—Ocean Hill, to study business administration at SUNY Brockport

United Neighborhood Houses

• Trey Lamar, Urban Academy Laboratory High School, NYC, to study electrical engineering at Stony Brook University

• Simorow Sanou, The High School of Fashion Industries, NYC, to study computer engineering at University of Connecticut

• Zienab Elidressiy, Atlas High School, Queens, to study business and project management at City College of New York

• Ebony Ramirez Lino, Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing Arts, NYC to study business and finance at Clark Atlanta University

• Joel De La Cruz, New Settlement College Access Program, Bronx, to study physics at City College of New York

New York Urban League 

• Paul Lachman, Cardinal Spellman High School, Bronx, to study mechanical engineering at Stony Brook University

• Mariam El-Hadik, Manhattan Village Academy, NYC, to study information science at Cornell University

• Laila Rogers, Democracy Prep Endurance Charter School, NYC, to study biochemistry at Boston University

• Francisco Ayala IV, Fordham Prep, Bronx, to study aerospace engineering at Rutgers University

• Faith Adeniyi, Challenge Charter High School, Far Rockaway, to study engineering science and geology at Stony Brook University

 

National Society of Black Engineers

• Sudeshna Deb, City Honors School at Fosdick-Masten Park, Buffalo, to study computer science at University at Buffalo

• Mohammed Muhaimin, Math Science and Technology Prep School, Buffalo, to study computer engineering at University at Buffalo

• Samia Uddin, Burgard High School, Buffalo, to study computer science at University at Buffalo

• Arian Bhuiyan, City Honors High School, Buffalo, to study computer engineering at University at Buffalo

 

Hear from the scholarship recipients in their own words in this video.

See photos from this weekend’s conference here and here. More photos available by request.

 

For more information about this program, please contact Julieanne Sullivan, Environmental Justice senior project manager, at julieanne.sullivan@nypa.gov.