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PG&E Now Accepting Applications For $1 Million Bright Minds Scholarships And Employee Resource Group Scholarships

^{Published on 2013-01-24 13:00:46 - Market Wire}
 

PG&E Now Accepting Applications For $1 Million Bright Minds Scholarships And Employee... -- SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today announced that it is accepting applications from students to receive [ PG&E Bright Minds™ scholarships ], as well as scholarships from the utility's [ Employee Resource Groups ] (ERGs).

Through its Bright Minds Scholarship program, PG&E will award up to $1 million in scholarships to enable high school, community college and "non-traditional" students to complete their higher education paths. Bright Minds scholarship winners will receive full-ride scholarships of up to $30,000 per year; program finalists will receive $2,500 towards their studies. In addition to the scholarship opportunities available through the PG&E Bright Minds program, the PG&E Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are also accepting applications for a wide variety of scholarships.

"PG&E believes that advancing educational opportunities is one of the most important ways we can give back to the communities where we deliver gas and electricity," said Ezra Garrett , vice president of community relations and chief sustainability officer for PG&E. "The Bright Minds Scholarship program will provide deserving students with the means to advance their learning and reach their full potential through the power of education."

In 2012, PG&E awarded Bright Minds scholarships of up to $30,000 to 100 students throughout Northern and Central California. Scholarship recipients included high school seniors, current college students and adults returning to college. One scholarship recipient from Livermore was a veteran of the military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Another recipient from Bakersfield had been homeless at one time prior to turning her life around.

The PG&E Bright Minds scholarships will be awarded based on a combined demonstration of community leadership, personal triumph, financial need and academic achievement. Eligible students will be enrolled in a full-time undergraduate program at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the duration of the 2013-2014 academic year.

PG&E's ERG scholarships have provided more than $2.5 million to hundreds of recipients throughout northern and central California since 1989. In 2012, ERGs awarded $302,000 in scholarships to 163 deserving students. The awards set a new record, surpassing the prior year's $289,000 in scholarships.

The deadline to apply for the ERG scholarships is February 1, 2013. More information can be found on the "Scholarship" link at [ www.pge.com/community ].

The deadline for applying for the PG&E Bright Minds Scholarship is February 28, 2013. For more information and to apply, visit [ www.pge.com/brightminds ]. Scholarship winners will be announced in the spring.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), a subsidiary of [ PG&E Corporation ] (NYSE: [ PCG ]), and the PG&E Corporation Foundation strive to power strong communities throughout Northern and Central California. In 2012 PG&E contributed over $23 million to charitable organizations, including matching the generosity of employees who donated more than $6 million and volunteered 41,000 hours to company-supported events. Community investments are funded entirely by shareholders. For more information, visit [ www.pge.com/community ].

SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)