BHE GT&S provides $20,000 in scholarship grants to American Association of Blacks in Energy for Virginia, South Carolina chapters
February 8, 2022
BHE GT&S, a Berkshire Hathaway Energy company, recently awarded $20,000 in grant funding to the Virginia and South Carolina Chapters of the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE). Each association received $10,000, which will benefit the scholarship programs in their respective states and provide rising or current college students with financial support as they pursue careers in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) or business fields.
AABE is a national organization of energy professionals dedicated to ensuring that African Americans and other minorities have an opportunity to be part of discussions and developments in energy policy, research and development, and environmental issues. The state chapters offer various professional leadership and outreach opportunities, as well as volunteering and student mentoring offerings to support career exploration for students.
Eric Tatum, president of the South Carolina Chapter, said, “This generous contribution from BHE GT&S supporting the Josie K. Claiborne Scholarship Fund will allow us to continue supporting students in the Carolinas and their chosen fields at the college level. In addition, this contribution moves us a step closer to our goal of establishing an endowment fund for our scholarship efforts.”
Porter Johnson, a director at BHE GT&S in South Carolina and a member of the AABE South Carolina Chapter
AABE’s South Carolina Chapter is entering its 38th year as an association and began its scholarship program in 2003. AABE’s Virginia Chapter was established in 2011 and started offering scholarships in 2014. Together, the two chapters have supported around 200 students with over $300,000 in scholarships. Recipients have attended a range of colleges around the nation, from state universities to Ivy Leagues to HBCUs. Many have gone on to internships or careers in energy or STEM, or further education through master’s and Ph.D. programs.
“Over the years, we have been able to award scholarships to some amazing, smart individuals and it’s been exciting to watch their growth within their academic career,” said Jesse Myrick, president of the Virginia Chapter. “As we head into the next round of scholarships, we’re looking forward to adding trade schools and community colleges to our institutions of support.”
Porter Johnson, Director of Area Transmission Operations for BHE GT&S’s operational company Carolina Gas Transmission, said, “This scholarship donation has great potential to impact many communities within our company’s footprint. As an employee of BHE GT&S and a member of the AABE South Carolina Chapter, I’m thankful we are investing in the communities we serve. It is my hope that our AABE scholarship recipients become our energy professionals of the future.”
BHE GT&S’s philanthropy program has a long history of investing in projects and initiatives that support its neighbors across its 10 states of operation: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. To read more about BHE GT&S grant opportunities, visit bhegts.com/who-we-are/community-engagement. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $15,000 and are available for a variety of education, health, arts and culture, and environmental work.
About BHE GT&S
BHE GT&S is an interstate natural gas transmission and storage company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, that is a standalone subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy. The company currently operates around 5,500 miles of transmission lines in the eastern U.S and 420 bcf of working gas capacity, along with gathering, processing and field services businesses. It also provides a variety of LNG solutions through Pivotal LNG, its 25% operating stake in Cove Point LNG — the import, export and liquefaction facility in Lusby, Maryland — and other LNG processing and storage initiatives.
The energy we provide supports a number of large customers, including major utilities, power plants, and manufacturing, through links to production and major pipelines. We are also committed to innovative and sustainable solutions that give large customers more options in moving gas safely, reliably and efficiently in their markets. Read more at bhegts.com.
About the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE)
AABE seeks to serve as a resource for policy discussion of the economic, social and political impact of environmental and energy policies on African Americans and other minorities. It aims to ensure involvement of African Americans in governmental energy policymaking; to encourage both the public and private sectors to be responsive to the problems, goals and aspirations of African Americans in energy-related fields; and to encourage African American students to pursue careers in energy-related fields and to provide scholarships and other financial aid for such students. For more information, visit: aabe.org.
