The Clean Power Alliance Voyager Scholarship supports students at seven community colleges throughout Los Angeles County and Ventura County by providing financial aid to student enrolled in energy-focused careers, such as electric vehicles and advanced transportation technology, energy and environmental science, and renewable energy.
The scholarship was launched In May 2019 when CPA’s Board of Directors approved funding to support students pursuing renewable energy pathways at local Southern California colleges.
Recently, Owen Rivas, a second-year electrical technology student at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, shared why sustainability and renewable energy are key to his ambitions, and how the Voyager Scholarship has aided him on his green energy journey.
“I think it’s important for us to diminish the amount of harm we do to the planet and leave the environment in the best condition we can for the next generation,” Rivas said. “I want to go into electrical technology to ensure I play my part in improving conditions and making the world actually sustainable.”
Last year, over $15,000 was equally distributed to seven schools within CPA’s service area: Antelope Valley College, Compton College, East Los Angeles College, Rio Hondo College, Ventura College, Oxnard College, and Moorpark College. These institutions were chosen for their locations within Los Angeles and Ventura counties and their robust sustainability programs.
This year, CPA is providing $105,000 in scholarship funding.
The goal of the Voyager Scholarship is to help nurture a local renewable energy workforce while developing the next generation of green energy leaders. To create the Voyager Scholarship, CPA worked with our Community Advisory Committee (CAC) to evaluate scholarship distribution options before working with the CPA Board of Directors to officially launch the scholarship program.
“Renewable energy is really important as the need for us to produce less pollution and focus on creating products that we can use again and again,” Rivas concluded. “We won’t run out of wind or the sun but at some point, we may run out of fossil fuels. So, transitioning to geothermal and wind and solar energy is key for us all going forward.”
Learn more at cleanpoweralliance.org/cpavoyager.
