VSU Receives Grant from Dominion Energy to Support STEM Students
- $2.75 million grant will provide scholarships and development opportunities for STEM students
- Dominion Energy has committed $25 million to be shared by 11 HBCUs
VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY, VA. – Hundreds of students at Virginia State University will receive funding for their studies in science, technology, engineering and math, thanks to a $2.75 million grant from Dominion Energy.
VSU is one of 11 historically black colleges and universities benefitting from Dominion Energy’s six-year “HBCU Promise.” The program will support endowments, capital projects, operating expenses and educational programs in clean energy at HBCUs in Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina and South Carolina.
“Twenty-five percent of African American graduates with STEM degrees come from HBCUs,” said VSU President, Dr. Makola M. Abdullah. “This initiative will make an impactful difference at VSU as we offer our students educational excellence in our transformative STEM programs. We are grateful for Dominion Energy’s nearly 40 years of volunteer and financial support to HBCUs.”
A large portion of the grant – $1.8 million – will be used to endow the VSU “Dominion Energy Science and Engineering Scholarship” which will provide assistance to upper-class students majoring in computer science or computer engineering.
An additional $650,000 will be used to expand the VSU Summer Bridge Program from 15 students currently to 100 students over the next six years. The summer residential pre-college program will be offered to incoming freshmen interested in STEM majors with the goal of improving their academic performance in mathematics and science, as well as increasing student retention and graduation from VSU’s Computer Science & Engineering programs.
A portion of the grant also will support student research and attendance at professional conferences over the next 6 years.
“We know that education can serve as a springboard for social and economic mobility,” said Ed Baine, president of Dominion Energy Virginia. “We’re honored to support HBCUs that are doing a great job developing the future workforce and leaders of our nation.”
Dominion Energy also has committed $10 million in scholarships to assist African American and other underrepresented minority students who reside in the company’s service area. Students can learn more and apply at DominionEnergy.com/EquityScholarships.
About Virginia State University
Virginia State University, a public, comprehensive 1890 Land Grant institution and historically black college/university, is committed to the preparation of a diverse population of men and women through the advancement of academic programs and services that integrate instruction, research, extension, and outreach.
About Dominion Energy
More than 7 million customers in 16 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company is committed to sustainable, reliable, affordable and safe energy and to achieving net zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions from its power generation and gas infrastructure operations by 2050. Please visit DominionEnergy.com to learn more.