BALTIMORE — Nearly 20 Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) utility trainees kicked off their week on Monday, August 5, 2013 by engaging more than 50 Higher Achievement, Baltimore, scholars in hands-on learning exercises, focused on helping the students use their STEM skills to learn about the skilled labor required to reliably and safely deliver natural gas and electric to BGE’s 1.2 million central Maryland customers.
The event was part of Higher Achievement’s rigorous Summer Academy, a program that helps limited-income youth develop strong academic behaviors and skills in middle school to prepare them for high school and beyond.
In addition, BGE presented a check for $20,000 to the Higher Achievement Program, Inc. After School Academy in support of education initiatives and programs for at-risk students.
“Monday’s event with BGE and Higher Achievement, Baltimore, is the first step in what we hope is a long and rewarding relationship with the students and BGE,” said Daniel Gahagan, vice president and general counsel for BGE, and Higher Achievement, Baltimore, President’s Council member. “BGE has a strong commitment to supporting educational initiatives in the communities we serve, and we are proud to support Higher Achievement, Baltimore, both financially and by providing a learning experience that will follow these students throughout their academic careers. Working with these exceptional students was as rewarding for our employees, as it was for the students.”
The BGE utility trainers and trainees spent one-on-one time with the students, guiding them through a series of hands-on learning stations, which included the building of a generator, gas leak detection, the importance of using safety and personal protective equipment, and electrical hazard awareness. This event provides an opportunity to develop a multi-year relationship between the BGE utility trainees and the students as they progress through the Higher Achievement program and hone their academic skills.
“BGE has gone above and beyond in designing an interactive, educational field trip for our scholars,” said Erin Hodge-Williams, executive director of Higher Achievement, Baltimore.
“Engagement with local companies and hands-on learning are important experiences that help our scholars envision their futures. We greatly appreciate BGE’s valuable contributions to our program, and the willingness of the employees to share their knowledge and skills.”
As part of its commitment to enhancing the communities it serves throughout central Maryland, BGE supports organizations through both charitable funding and volunteer efforts on programs that help deliver a sustained and measurable impact in the areas of education, energy efficiency, environment, emergency response and economic and community development. BGE actively and enthusiastically teams up with organizations that work to improve the quality of life in the communities where our customers and
employees live and work.
For more information on BGE’s commitment to charitable giving and dedicated employee volunteers, visit: bge.com/ourcommitments.