One hundred high school students from across the region spent last week immersed in STEM exploration as part of PECO and the Exelon Foundation’s annual STEM Academy and Boys to STEM Academy, held at Saint Joseph’s University.
The weeklong, on-campus program gives rising high school juniors and seniors a chance to dive into STEM learning, participate in real-world energy challenges, and experience life on a college campus.
All at no cost to participants.
“We want these students to see themselves in these fields,” said Maya Huggins-Garcia, Senior Manager of Corporate Relations at Exelon. “We’re giving them not only exposure to STEM careers, but also a support system of mentors and peers who believe in their potential.”
This year marks the eighth cohort of the STEM Academy, which focuses on young women, and the second year of the Boys to STEM Academy. Students are selected from Exelon’s utility service territories, including areas of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. A total of four hundred students will have taken part in the academies this summer.
Each group is hosted in one of four regional academies: Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, and the D.C. metro area.
The dual-track approach reflects the company’s evolving understanding of opportunity gaps in education. While the original STEM Academy aimed to address the gender gap in STEM professions, the Boys to STEM Academy was launched in response to the declining number of young men pursuing post-secondary degrees.
“We want students to walk away understanding not only STEM pathways, but also the broader opportunities in the energy industry and how they can build meaningful careers,” Huggins-Garcia said.
This year’s Philadelphia cohort includes students from the five-county region and from as far away as Atlantic City and Wilmington. Exelon’s recruitment strategy relies heavily on school partnerships and social media, with a strong emphasis on reaching students who may not otherwise have access to enrichment opportunities.
“We especially lean on educators, counselors, and organizations to help us reach those students who show interest in STEM but might not have the financial means or encouragement to pursue it further,” Huggins-Garcia said.
Throughout the week, students attended workshops, met with PECO and Exelon professionals, and worked in teams to develop solutions to pressing energy and environmental challenges. They presented those solutions to a panel of judges at the end of the week, gaining public speaking and collaboration experience in the process.
The learning will extend well beyond the week that students spent at Saint Joseph’s. Both academies are part of a year-round commitment. Alumni of the program receive monthly newsletters (girls and boys) with scholarship information and career guidance, and many continue to engage through mentorship opportunities, skill-building workshops, and internships.
“From how to apply for college, to completing the FAFSA, to conducting mock interviews — we’re helping these students build confidence and competence,” Huggins-Garcia said. “By staying on campus all week, they’re also getting a full taste of college life.”
The programs are designed as a pipeline into the energy workforce of the future. PECO and Exelon offer full-ride scholarships to alumni pursuing degrees in STEM and related fields, with 34 students currently receiving financial support.
The impact is already visible. Two participants from the Academy’s inaugural graduating class are now employed full-time with Exelon, and 16 current scholarship recipients are interning across the company. One former participant is even managing this year’s Academy as an intern on Huggins-Garcia’s team.
After this summer’s programs conclude, more than 1,400 young women and 200 young men will have graduated from the STEM Academy and Boys to STEM Academy, respectively.
“This program would have changed everything for me,” said Huggins-Garcia, who possesses a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. “When I was pursuing engineering, I didn’t have a network. I didn’t have other women of my ethnic background in my classes. Now, we’re building that system for the next generation.”
Applications for the 2026 academies will open in December 2025. Additional information can be found at Exelon STEM Academy.
Learn more about PECO and its vision of driving positive impact in the communities it serves.
