The Florida Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE Florida) recently held its Annual General Membership Meeting (GMM) on December 13, 2024. This event brought together members, industry leaders, and community partners to reflect on the chapter’s achievements, discuss new initiatives, and set the stage for an impactful 2025.

Scholarship Program & Fundraising Success

The Scholarship Committee, led by Derick Farfan of Duke Energy, provided an update on the AABE Florida High School Scholarship Program. Thanks to strong industry support, the chapter continues to provide financial assistance to students pursuing careers in STEM fields with a focus on the energy sector.

A significant contributor to this success is the 18th Annual AABE Florida Golf Classic, which raised funds with the help of generous sponsors:
🏆 Title Sponsor: OUC
💎 Platinum Sponsors: FPL, Leidos, Ferreira Construction
🍽 Lunch Sponsor: TEA
🥇 Gold Sponsors: JEA, MESA, SECO, Seminole Electric

Black Energy Awareness Month (BEAM) 2024 – Inspiring the Next Generation

Mikle Gordon presented an overview of the chapter’s Black Energy Awareness Month (BEAM) initiatives, which took place in October. BEAM 2024 focused on introducing students and young professionals to careers in the energy industry through hands-on activities, industry discussions, and mentorship programs.

A key highlight was the NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers) partnership, which connected students from:
🎓 Florida A&M University & Florida State University
🎓 University of South Florida
🎓 University of Florida
🎓 University of Central Florida

Through career fairs and networking opportunities, over 130 students engaged with industry leaders, paving the way for future careers in energy.

Regional Engagement & Community Initiatives

🔹 Northeast Florida BEAM Initiative (Presented by LaMiriam Johnson, JEA)

• The 2nd BEAM Project at Minds of the Future Academy (Jacksonville, FL) engaged 200+ K-12 students in energy education from October 28-30, 2024.

🔹 South Florida Region Update (Presented by Dion Watson & Jasmine Govan, NextEra Energy)

• A successful Holiday Social on December 5, 2024, strengthened professional connections within the AABE Florida network.

Looking Ahead: AABE Florida’s 2025 Goals

As the chapter moves into 2025, it remains committed to:
✅ Strengthening community partnerships to expand educational opportunities.
✅ Leveraging technology to improve mentorship and industry outreach.
✅ Enhancing communications through website updates and social media engagement.

Join Us at the 2025 AABE National Conference!

📍 Location: Atlanta, GA
🗓 Early Bird Registration Deadline: January 31, 2025, at 5:00 PM EST

We encourage all members to stay involved, take advantage of networking opportunities, and help us continue shaping the future of energy.

Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to follow AABE Florida on social media for the latest news and events!

🚀 Together, we are building a brighter, more inclusive energy future!

The scholarship committee is pleased to announce the 2024 AABE Florida/Duke Energy Foundation Collegiate Scholarship application is now available.  If you or your network know of a Sophomore-Senior college/university students that are majoring in business, one of the physical sciences, technology, engineering, or mathematics, please encourage them to apply.  All applications must be submitted by the deadline which is Friday, December 20th, 2024. 

Please download the application for further details including eligibility.

The purpose of the AABE-FL/Duke Energy Foundation Collegiate Scholarship is to assist African American, Hispanic and Native American students with the cost of pursuing a bachelor’s degree in energy-related fields at an accredited college or university within the state of Florida.

The AABE-FL/Duke Energy Foundation Collegiate scholarship rewards collegiate students who reside or attend a higher institution within Duke Energy Florida’s service territory.

A motivating force behind what we do is purposefully investing in our future.  Our investments come full circle when many of the students we support go on to work in the energy industry, and those companies, like Duke Energy in this instance, gain skilled workers trained to meet the demands of a modern workforce.