Bright Minds Power a New Future
David Chudoba, a senior at Niles West High School, is a natural with math and science. When the Exelon Foundation invited him to a weeklong STEM Academy, he seized the opportunity to dive into engineering.
A Week of Real‑World Engineering
- Dates & Venue: June 21–26 at DePaul University and the ComEd Training Center
- Project Focus: Transform a brownfield—an abandoned, polluted site—into a community asset
- Energy Challenge: Design how the new space will receive electricity, blending grid connections with solar panels
During this intensive program, David explored practical infrastructure decisions such as whether to run power lines above or below ground. He also sharpened teamwork skills, dividing tasks daily and collaborating closely with classmates.
Award & Insight
At the week’s end, David earned a STEM Academy Award. He shared that earlier concerns about AI replacing human roles in science and tech were allayed by conversations with professional engineers, who emphasized that real opportunities remain plentiful.
The Foundation’s Vision
- Initial Focus: Women, to fill gaps in female representation within STEM fields
- Expansion: Men were later invited due to a decline in male enrollment in college science courses
- Selection: Competitive process valuing curiosity and genuine interest
Participants engage in hands‑on experiments, attend networking events with industry leaders, and polish professional skills before presenting their completed projects to CEOs from Exelon.
Turning Theory into Practice
These experiences help students envision how future infrastructure can serve communities, turning theoretical knowledge into tangible solutions.
