Central State University Receives Grant from Dominion Energy for IT Infrastructure, Scholarship Endowment, and Study-Internships

•    Students will be provided upgraded virtual learning tools to increase access to remote classroom instruction, real-world experiences in the growing power and clean energy field, and expanded achievement-based scholarship funds to defray educational expenses while enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program;  
•    Dominion Energy has committed $25 million to be shared by 11 HBCUs.
 
Students at Central State University will expand its summer institute internship programs, increase virtual learning accessibility, and grow their endowment scholarship funds thanks to a $500,000 grant from Dominion Energy.

Central State University is one of 11 historically black colleges and universities benefitting from Dominion Energy’s six-year “HBCU Promise.” The program will support endowments, capital projects, operating expenses, and educational programs in clean energy at HBCUs in Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

“We are pleased to launch this partnership as it will expose our students to the vast energy industry career opportunities,” said Dr. Jack Thomas, President of Central State University.  “We are thankful for the investment and are excited to launch this new game-changing initiative that aligns with partnership growth and development,” said Dr. Thomas. “The relationship with Dominion Energy is a great example of how higher education and industry can come together to strategically address workforce development and the diversification of the talent pipeline for the energy sector,” said Dr. Zillah Fluker, Vice-President of Institutional Advancement at CSU.

The grant to Central State will offer expanded learning opportunities for students. Midwest’s largest, public HBCU and 1890 Land-Grant Institution, Central State University will launch the Dominion Energy Summer Institute, a 12-week study-internship program, including a four-week classroom component followed by an eight-week internship at Dominion Energy.  The intensive experiential work-learning program follows the successful career-development program for Ohio’s banking industry through its rigorous Summer Banking Institute. Central State University has established the Center of Excellence for HBCU Corporate Engagement that will serve as a central hub for student talent development best practices and modeling, as well as a research think tank for the development of higher education strategic corporate programs.

The Dominion Energy grant will also seed the Dominion Energy Scholarship, an achievement-based scholarship endowment to help students continue their path to graduation. Underwriting upgrades to IT infrastructure and individual student and classroom technology access for virtual and in-class learning environments. Dominion Energy’s grant will impact hundreds of students throughout their Central State University experience.

“Dominion Energy is proud to partner with Central State University in supporting scholarships for students and enhancing the institution’s IT infrastructure to bridge the digital divide,” said Leighton McCoy, Vice President, Gas Distribution Technical Services. “This grant will also provide real-world work experience through student internships as they explore their career options. We look forward to uplifting Central State University students and highlighting their achievements as they pursue excellence and success.”

Dominion Energy also has committed $10 million in scholarships to assist African American and other underrepresented minority students who reside in the company’s service area. Students can learn more and apply at DominionEnergy.com/EquityScholarships.