At Yale University, Sandra Amezcua Rocha hasn’t declared a major yet, but the 2018 Edison Scholar is taking full advantage of the learning opportunities offered at the Ivy League institution.

“I am doing great. I’m taking an intro to engineering course that is amazing,” said the freshman. “I’m being exposed to engineering and coding, things which my high school had limited access to or my life at home restricted my time for doing.”

She credits her academic enthusiasm in part to the $40,000 Edison Scholars award she received from Edison International last spring.

“The Edison scholarship gives me a sense of security over my education,” said Sandra, who calls South El Monte home. “It empowers me by reminding me that I have the resources to discover new things and take classes I wouldn’t normally be able to because of the costs associated with it.”

Each year, Edison International, parent company of Southern California Edison, awards $40,000 scholarships, paid over four years, to 30 high school seniors planning to major in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) at a four-year accredited U.S. college or university.

Scholarship applications are now being accepted through Dec. 14,

Armani Aguiar, a 2017 Edison Scholar, is a computer science major juggling school work with outside activities at Princeton University. He has joined multiple clubs on campus, including the entrepreneurship club, which keeps him busy and meeting new people.

The Edison scholarship has allowed him to fully concentrate on his studies. It has also created unlimited learning opportunities for him at Princeton that he hopes will help him realize his dream of becoming an entrepreneur.

“The scholarship definitely took away the financial worry,” he said. “I haven’t had to think at all about paying for college, which is probably one of the best things that could happen to a student. Since I don’t have to focus on earning money to pay off school expenses, I am free to take any path I’d like in my educational journey because there aren’t money issues attached.” 

For Avey Songco, a 2018 Edison Scholar who attends UC Berkeley, the benefits of her Edison scholarship extends beyond financial assistance. It has allowed her to make new, lifelong friends who share her STEM passion and dream of making a difference.

“This scholarship also introduced me to several amazing individuals at this campus,” said the Carson resident. “I joined the Pilipino Association of Scientists, Architects, and Engineers, and in this organization I am surrounded by students who remind me of home and are driven to make impacts on our community and empower our peers.”

The 2019 scholarship recipients will be announced in the spring. To apply and get eligibility information, visit: edisonscholars.com.

Edison International’s support of charitable causes, including the Edison Scholars Program, is funded entirely by shareholders. SCE customers’ utility bill payments do not fund company donations.