Avangrid powers education journey for graduating senior with $5,000 STEM scholarship
Representatives from Avangrid present $5,000 STEM scholarship check to Hannah Schumacher, who will be attending the University of Illinois this fall.
MINONK, Ill. – Graduation season is a time of celebration, reflection, and anticipation for high school seniors across the country. Whether they’re signing yearbooks, enjoying final moments with friends, or gearing up for college, it’s a milestone filled with promise. For one graduating senior in Illinois, that promise just got a little brighter and Avangrid is proud to be a part of their journey.
Members of Avangrid’s Midwest development team recently presented at $5,000 scholarship to Hannah Schumacher, a graduating senior from Fieldcrest High School in Minonk, Illinois. This scholarship supports students pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Schumacher will be attending the University of Illinois in the fall as a pre-med student and wants to focus on dermatology.
“[This scholarship] means that I have more resources to go through my med-school journey. This support is what it will take to go through this confidently, without worrying about, ‘Do I have enough money to buy textbooks,’” said Schumacher. “Even though it is scary with a lot of steps and pre-requisites, I think I’ve got it. I’m passionate enough about this material that I’m not worried about failure.”
The University of Illinois was Schumacher’s top choice, and she’s excited about the vibrant campus life, including the food and community. The scholarship was open to all graduating seniors at Fieldcrest High School.
Avangrid’s engagement with the Minonk community extends beyond this scholarship opportunity. Earlier this spring, Avangrid team members joined over 100 juniors and seniors to educate them on safe driving techniques when passing through a construction area. This is important because the company is building the 153-Megawatt (MW) Osagrove Flats energy project just a few miles to the north of Minonk. The facility will produce enough energy annually for about 50,000 average U.S. homes, create hundreds of construction jobs and several permanent jobs, and contribute over $40 million in tax benefits to the community.
“We are proud to support Hannah with this scholarship. She is clearly a deserving student with a bright future ahead in dermatology,” said Derek Bus, Senior Business Developer with Avangrid. “With the construction of Osagrove Flats, Avangrid is committed to being a good, long-term partner to this community.”
Schumacher has a few months before heading off to college, but she plans to remain busy through the summer.
“I’m working a lot this summer,” she said. “I’m about to clock in 37 hours next week at my job because I’m trying to pay for college to some degree. A lot of my friends are home from their respective colleges and now I get to talk to them about what they went through and get their advice.”
