From Community College to Sustainability Success
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 19, 2022—An event Oct. 26 will celebrate the launch of the Silicon Valley Power Sustainable Futures Program, designed to prepare dozens of Santa Clara University students for next-generation careers in sustainability professions.
The launch event will be held at Santa Clara University’s Adobe Lodge from 5 to 6 p.m. on Oct. 26. Speakers from program sponsors Santa Clara University; the city of Santa Clara; and the city’s not-for-profit municipal electric utility, Silicon Valley Power (SVP) will discuss the program and announce this year’s participants. Guests at the event will receive a tour of Santa Clara University’s campus sustainability infrastructure investments
Preparing Students for Sustainability Professions
The program aims to provide selected students —especially those transferring to Santa Clara University from Mission College and other local community colleges—with funds to attend and receive advanced opportunities at Santa Clara University’s award-winning environmental and sustainability curriculum. It is being funded by a $375,000 grant from Silicon Valley Power. Santa Clara University has committed additional financial support to ensure students can complete their studies at the University.
“Santa Clara University is grateful to Silicon Valley Power for partnering with us in this innovative program,” said Santa Clara University President Julie Sullivan, who will speak at the event. “This work furthers our goal to make education accessible to talented students who will become leaders for a more humane, just, and sustainable world.”
Cities, nonprofits, and businesses are in need of professionals with applied knowledge about clean energy, climate change mitigation, and climate resiliency rooted in environmental and social justice, noted Lindsey Kalkbrenner, director of Santa Clara’s Center for Sustainability. “This program will help our students graduate from SCU conversant in current sustainability challenges and solutions, and give them a leg up in this vital employment field,” she said.
A Five-Year Program
The five-year program, approved in June, will provide scholarships and fellowships to up to 35 future leaders in sustainability, clean energy and related fields. Four students a year will receive scholarships for sustainability-related studies at Santa Clara; and three students a year will receive fellowships to fund applied research through SCU’s Center for Sustainability. Students will be better prepared for professions such as sustainability officers or analysts at companies or government agencies; environmental, health and safety management; or sustainability management positions.
“Silicon Valley Power's vision includes creating innovative and creative energy solutions for a resilient and sustainable community,” said SVP’s chief electric utility officer, Manuel Pineda. “This program will help create a pipeline of talented, ethical, and committed sustainability leaders of tomorrow through education and experience in this field.”
About the City of Santa Clara
Located at the heart of Silicon Valley, about 45 miles south of San Francisco, the City of Santa Clara truly is “The Center of What’s Possible.” Incorporated in 1852, Santa Clara covers an area of 19.3 square miles with a population of 120,000. Santa Clara is home to an extraordinary array of high-tech companies, including Applied Materials, Intel, Nvidia, Oracle, and Ericsson. The City of Santa Clara is also home to Santa Clara University, California’s Great America Theme Park, and Levi’s® Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers and Super Bowl 50. For more information, go to www.SantaClaraCA.gov.
About Silicon Valley Power
Silicon Valley Power (SVP) is the trademark adopted for use by the not-for-profit electric municipal utility of Santa Clara, CA, serving residents and businesses for over 125 years. SVP provides power to over 57,000 customers, at rates 25 to 53 percent below neighboring communities. SVP is the only full service, vertically integrated publicly owned utility in Silicon Valley owning generation, transmission and distribution assets. See more at: www.siliconvalleypower.com.
About Santa Clara University
Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University sits in the heart of Silicon Valley—the world’s most innovative and entrepreneurial region. The University’s stunningly landscaped 106-acre campus is home to the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asís. Ranked among the top 15 percent of national universities by U.S. News & World Report, SCU has among the best four-year graduation rates in the nation and is rated by PayScale in the top 1 percent of universities with the highest-paid graduates. SCU has produced elite levels of Fulbright Scholars as well as four Rhodes Scholars. With undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, and graduate programs in six disciplines, the curriculum blends high-tech innovation with social consciousness grounded in the tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education. For more information see www.scu.edu.
Media Contacts
Lon Peterson | Director of Communications, City of Santa Clara | 408-615-5522 | lpeterson@santaclaraca.gov
Deborah Lohse | SCU Media Communications | 408-554-5121 | dlohse@scu.edu
Program Contacts, City of Santa Clara
Michelle Templeton | City Sustainability Manager | 408-615-2290 | mtempleton@santaclaraca.gov
Kathleen Hughes | Sr. Division Manager - Customer Engagement | 408-615-6632 | khughes@santaclaraca.gov