July 7, 2024 Sunday

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Student Drop Off and Check In  

1:00 pm – 2:45 pm Dorm Set Up, Meet Your Roommate 

3:00 pm Overview of the Week 

3:15 pm Getting to Know Each Other 

4:30 pm Exelon 101 

3:15 pm Discuss the Challenge 

5:30 pm Dinner

6:30 pm Meet Your Mentor Group

7:00 pm Return to dorm, Dorm Meeting

8:00 pm Complete Tech Set Up 

9:00 pm Dorm Time/Finish unpacking 

10:30 pm Lights out 

July 8, 2024 Monday 

8:00 am Breakfast 

8:45 am Depart for ComEd Chicago Training Center from Student Center East

9:10 am Fieldtrip to Chicago Training Center

12:00 pm Lunch and Panel at Chicago Training Center

2:00 pm Tour ComEd Chicago North 

4:30 pm Rec Time

6:00 pm Dinner 

7:00 pm Creating Your Personal Brand 

9:00 pm Dorm Time 

10:30 pm Lights Out 

July 9, 2024 Tuesday 

8:00 am Breakfast presentation from UIC Office of Admissions

9:00 am Tour UIC facilities

11:30 am Lunch 

12:30 pm Hands-on Activities 

2:00 pm Challenge Work Time

3:00 pm Rec Time 

5:00 pm Alumni Dinner and Internship Panel 

6:00 pm Challenge Work Time

7:30 pm Professional Skills Session 

9:00 pm Dorm Time 

10:30 pm Lights Out

July 10, 2024 Wednesday 

8:00 am Breakfast 

9:30 am Lessons in Leadership

11:00 am Executive Reception 

11:30 am Executive Luncheon

12:30 pm Dessert Reception

1:30 pm Rec Time

3:30 pm Challenge Work Time

6:00 pm Dinner

7:00 pm Hands-on Activities

9:00 pm Dorm Time 

10:30 pm Lights Out 

July 11, 2024 Thursday 

8:00 am Breakfast

9:00 am Challenge Work Time

12:00 pm Lunch 

12:45 pm Challenge Work Time

4:35 pm Leadership Skills Session 

6:30 pm Fun Evening Outting and Dinner 

9:00 pm Dorm Time and Finish Packing

10:30 pm Lights Out

July 12, 2024 Friday 

8:00 am Breakfast 

9:00 am Challenge Work Time

11:30 am Lunch

12:30 pm Challenge Presentation and Judging  

3:30 pm Break

3:45 pm Debrief of the Week

4: 30 pm End of Week Survey and Evaluation

5:15 pm Closing Presentation and Dinner

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Participant Pick Up/Check out of Residence Hall

*Specific activities, and times subject to change

• Who is eligible to attend the Exelon Foundation STEM Academy?
  • Girls who are currently in 10th or 11th grade (Class of 2025 & 2026) in the ComEd service area are welcome to apply for the program.
    • Eligible Counties: Cook (including the City of Chicago), Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, DuPage, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Jo Daviess, Kankakee, Kane, Kendall, Lake, La Salle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, McLean, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, Winnebago, Will.
• How much does it cost to attend?
  • There is no cost to attend the Exelon Foundation STEM Academy. Lodging and meals during the academy are provided.
• My daughter is currently in 9th grade, can she attend?
  • Applicants in the class of 2025 and 2026 are welcome to apply. Currently 9th graders are not eligible to attend the Academy but are welcome to join us for any of our shorter STEM Day events throughout the year.  
• My parent works for Exelon, can I apply for the program?
  • Children/dependents of Exelon executives (EO9 and above) are not eligible to apply for the Academy. If you are related to an Exelon employee, regardless of their position, please disclose this relationship on your application.
• Does applying mean I am accepted into the program?
  • No, the application is a competitive process. All applications will be reviewed after the application deadline and everyone will be notified via email as to the status of their application.
• Can I fill out the application for my daughter?
  • We ask that all applications be completed by the student interested in attending the program.
• Can I attend an academy outside of my service area?
  • Participants must attend the academy in their area. Applicants from Illinois must attend the Academy being held at the University of Illinois Chicago.
• Can my son apply?
  • The Exelon Foundation STEM Academy is only open to females. Young men may consider applying for the Exelon Foundation Boys to STEM program in 2024.
• Can I attend the Academy if I attended last year?
  • At this time previous attendees are not eligible to attend the Academy. Previous attendees interested in being on student staff should contact Rebecca Lamb, rlamb@need.org by January 1, 2024.
• Will the Academy focus on the medical field?
  • While the STEM Academy encourages students to pursue all STEM fields, the program will not address medical fields. The STEM Academy is focused on energy, sustainability, and climate change.
• Do I have to stay on campus?
  • Yes, during the in-person academy all participants are required to stay on campus for the duration of the program.
• I won’t be able to attend Sunday, can I join the academy starting Monday? 
  • We are unable to accommodate partial participation. All participants must participate fully – Sunday through Friday.
• I have a doctor’s appointment scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, can my parents pick me up and bring me back after my appointment?
  • We are unable to accommodate participants coming and going from the program. All appointments (doctor, DMV, school pictures, etc) need to be scheduled outside of the Academy dates. If applicants have extenuating medical circumstances, contact Rebecca Lamb, rlamb@need.org prior to accepting a seat at the Academy.
• Can I attend the Academy virtually?
  • In 2024 the STEM Academy is scheduled to be held as an IN PERSON event. We are unable to accommodate virtual attendees in the in-person setting.
• Who can provide a teacher reference for me?
  • Your reference can be a classroom teacher, coach, club sponsor, volunteer advisor, faith leader, etc. Your reference should know you well and be able to speak to your interest in STEM and leadership.
• Can I provide more than one teacher reference?
  • Please provide ONE email address for your teacher reference. An automatic email will be sent to your reference on completion of your application. If multiple addresses are provided, the automated email will not send.  
• I completed my application but have not received a confirmation email.
  • A confirmation email should arrive in your email inbox within 15 minutes of application completion. Be sure to check your spam/junk filter. If you do not receive an email confirmation, please contact Rebecca Lamb, rlamb@need.org prior to the application deadline.

What Past Participants Have Said

"There have been so many awesome opportunities in not just STEM, but also leadership. I highly recommend this opportunity for STEM-oriented females who seek change in their communities."

“Thank you for this opportunity. This week has been the best experience of my life!”

"I have learned a lot from the Academy; I am much more informed about networking and I have made lifelong friends. My interest in STEM has really been encouraged and I am very grateful for the experience."

"My favorite part of the academy was learning from the women on the panel. It was very inspiring and interesting to learn about their experience!"

“I really enjoyed talking to people who have been successful. There was more of a chance to interact with people who are doing what I’m interested in too which I liked a lot too. I met a woman who has a such a cool job too!”

“I learned to own my own energy and to be my own person. If I am confident in what I do AND act, I can do anything I set my mind to. There are so many more jobs I can look into, especially since many industries are looking for more women. It was incredibly inspiring.”

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The Exelon Foundation is committed to powering a better future including focusing on funding education and workforce development programs, energizing communities and supporting employee philanthropy.

Energy Empowerment in Communities

Support for programs that address climate change with a focus on underserved communities, such as the Climate Change Investment Initiative (2c2i).

Energy Education & Workforce Development

Support for programs that inspire students to pursue careers in the energy field.

Employee Engagement

Support for employee philanthropy through the Exelon Foundation Employee Giving Campaign, Matching Gifts and Dollars for Doers programs.

Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) provides electric service to more than ​​4​ million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population. ComEd is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy supplier.



The National Energy Education Development Project promotes an energy conscious and educated society by creating effective networks of students, educators, business, government and community leaders to design and deliver objective, multi-sided energy education programs. NEED works with energy companies, agencies and organizations to bring balanced energy programs to the nation’s schools with a focus on strong teacher professional development, timely and balanced curriculum materials, signature program capabilities and turn-key program management.