Duke Energy Florida gives $50,000 to SPC Promise Scholarship fund

1/31/2024

Duke Energy Florida announced a $50,000 donation to St. Petersburg College’s Promise Scholarship program to provide 2024 graduates of eight Pinellas County high schools with the opportunity to attend SPC at no cost to them. The funding helps provide upcoming high school graduates with an opportunity to get their tuition and fees completely covered as they obtain associate degrees or financial aid-eligible certificates.

“This generous donation from Duke Energy helps us continue our promise to educate students into better jobs, better lives and better futures,” said SPC President Dr. Tonjua Williams. “We have collaborated with Duke Energy on many initiatives over the years and greatly appreciate their continued support of SPC and our students. They are intentional in their philanthropic endeavors, always striving to advance the community.”

The Promise Scholarship connects Pinellas County high school students with powerful opportunities at SPC. The donation reinforces Duke Energy Florida’s support for the College as well as a shared commitment to create a diverse, skilled workforce that is representative of the communities both organizations serve.

The Promise Scholarship was launched last year as a pilot program for graduates of area high schools with the highest poverty rates in Pinellas County. In 2023, over 460 students received the scholarship, and SPC was able to increase the number of participating high schools from five to eight in the last year.

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 10,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 1.9 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.