Energy Tech High School Graduates First Class of Future STEM Leaders

National Grid New York President speaks to legacy class for Senior Awards Night

BROOKLYN N.Y. – Gabrielle Delacruz and Safwan Shahid begin internships at National Grid this week, both are members of the first graduating class of Energy Tech High School, a model early college and career combining high school that prepares students for careers in STEM – science, technology, engineering and math.

Energy Tech High School, in Long Island City, offers students a six-year program with a smooth path to an associate degree while preparing students for engineering and technology careers.  The inaugural class of 97 students will go on to earn their college degrees, many continuing their studies in engineering and technology fields.

Prior to graduation, Energy Tech held a Senior Awards Night.  As one of the school partners, National Grid’s New York President Ken Daly was the keynote speaker, after having first spoken with the students four years earlier when they started high school, encouraging the students to make a difference in their local communities.

“A new energy and business landscape is emerging, and we need a highly skilled workforce to meet the challenges ahead so we are partnering with the world of academia in preparing our future workforce,” Daly said.  “I’m inspired to once again meet the 97 graduates and to learn that the school received 1,300 applications for the next freshman class. We will continue to develop and teach the curriculum and provide mentorship and internship opportunities for the students to succeed in our industry and give back to their local communities.”

Gabrielle, from Queens, has an internship in National Grid’s Community & Customer Management area.  She will learn about stakeholder management, engaging with local communities and assisting customers with their energy needs.  During Energy Tech’s Senior Awards Night Gabrielle received the “Civic Engagement” award.  Gabrielle plans to attend Farmingdale State College in the fall and plans to further explore her interest in an engineering career.

Safwan, from the Bronx, has an internship in National Grid’s Customer Meter Services area (CMS).  He will learn about various components of CMS including how to read and install meters and conduct customer service calls.  During Energy Tech’s Senior Awards Night he received the “Core Values Award” for having embodied all of the Energy Tech values and making significant contributions to the school community.  Energy Tech’s core values are being:  Accountable, Challenged, Known, Safe, Supported and Valued.  Safwan also received the “Spanish Achievement Award.”  Safwan plans to attend The City College of New York Grove School of Engineering in the fall majoring in computer science.

“As our legacy class reaches this first major milestone, we are proud of their achievements and eagerly awaiting their continued success in the final two years of the six-year program,” said Hope Barter, Principal, Energy Tech High School.  “The student leaders receiving awards not only made significant contributions to their peers and classrooms, they helped shape the character and environment of the school as a whole.  We are thrilled to begin our first cohort of students participating in National Grid’s college internship program this summer.  These two students will have the invaluable experience of applying their academic, technical and workplace readiness skills learned here at Energy Tech to engineering and business roles this summer.  Through industry internships, students see first-hand what career paths are available to them and build skills and relationships that will ensure they are successful in the future.”

In addition to providing internships for graduating seniors, National Grid’s partnership with Energy Tech High School includes technical support to help shape the curriculum, field trips to company learning centers and power plants and mentoring opportunities.  Energy Tech is an Early College Initiative (ECI) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) school serving grades 9-14 focused on building a skilled workforce for the fast-growing energy industry.  The school opened in the fall of 2013 and is developed in partnership with the New York City Department of Education, City University of New York, LaGuardia Community College, National Grid and Con Edison.