Clean Power Alliance’s Voyager Scholarship is designed to develop the next generation of clean energy industry workers and leaders, by providing financial assistance to students enrolled in energy-focused programs at community colleges across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
The scholarship is part of CPA’s commitment to invest in local workforce development programs that offer alternative pathways to accessing energy industry jobs. CPA has dedicated more than $2 million to date in workforce development programs and skills training with union and non-union labor training organizations that connect job opportunities to people in marginalized communities.
The scholarship aims to strengthen the region’s clean energy workforce by supporting students studying in fields such as electric vehicle development, advanced transportation technology, environmental science, and renewable energy.
Several undergraduate students recently shared how sustainability and renewable energy align with their career ambitions—and how the Voyager Scholarship has helped them pursue a future in a green energy field.
“Receiving the Clean Power Alliance Voyager Scholarship is not just a financial boost, but also a source of motivation and affirmation of my dedication to environmental science,” said Nicolas Ebert, a student at Ventura County Community College (VCCD). “This is the first scholarship I have ever received, and it is empowering to know that people care about my educational success. I am committed to making the most of this opportunity and am determined to contribute meaningfully to the field.”
CPA is providing $585,000 in scholarship funding through 2027, which will be distributed to 11 schools within CPA’s service area. The scholarship provides awards ranging from $1,500 for part-time students and $3,000 for full-time students.
CPA plans to expand the Voyager Scholarship to additional colleges this year. Current schools include Antelope Valley College, Compton College, East Los Angeles College, Moorpark College, Oxnard College, Rio Hondo College, and Ventura College. These institutions were chosen due to the range of sustainability focused programs offered to students, the high rate of completion within the programs, and their geographic location in our Southern California service area.
For Vanessa Knight, also a student at VCCD, the Voyager Scholarship provided support for her to venture into a revolutionary new scientific field.
“I am incredibly grateful for this scholarship, which empowers me to pursue my dream of researching self-sustaining bio-robotics — systems that can operate without the need for batteries, wires, or charging stations. While this may sound like science fiction, I believe that with imagination and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, what seems impossible today could become a reality tomorrow,” Knight said. “Thanks to this support, I’m one step closer to turning this vision into a reality, and I’m excited for what the future holds.”
Learn more about the Voyager Scholarship by visiting cleanpoweralliance.org/cpavoyager.
