Through its charitable foundation, CenterPoint Energy today announced the company has committed $200,000 to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to provide 10 renewable scholarships to students within its eight-state service territory.
The UNCF CenterPoint Energy STEM and Business Administration Scholarship Program will award 10 qualifying students a four-year scholarship. Students must be accepted to a qualifying college or university to be eligible.
CenterPoint Energy is Minnesota’s largest natural gas utility, serving 890,000 residential and business customers in more than 260 communities.
“We are excited to join UNCF to support 10 deserving students in the communities where our employees live and work,” said Valentine Emesih, Vice President of Operational Technology and Cybersecurity for CenterPoint Energy, and UNCF Houston Leadership Council member. “Through the CenterPoint Energy Foundation grant, we will help empower students through education and enable them to pursue their dreams.”
Juana Collins, UNCF's Area Development Director said, “UNCF is thankful for our more than 35-year collaboration with CenterPoint Energy. Workforce diversity is proven essential to 21st century business success, and we are grateful to CenterPoint Energy's leadership for recognizing its importance.”
Collins added, “Our Historically Black Colleges and Universities and their students have oftentimes been overlooked for opportunities within the STEM, business and marketing fields. UNCF, CenterPoint Energy, and other industry leaders working together can help ensure low-income minority students are prepared for career success and make impactful contributions to their families and communities.”
About CenterPoint Energy
As the only investor-owned electric and gas utility based in Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is an energy delivery company with electric transmission and distribution, power generation and natural gas distribution operations that serve more than 7 million metered customers in Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. The CenterPoint Energy Foundation is a charitable giving organization focused on strengthening the quality of life in the communities served by the company. For more information, visit www.CenterPointEnergy.com