Month: May 2023

Energized by Edison

Diane Castro ENERGIZED by Edison Writer

It was a typical morning in first period AP physics for Temple City High School senior Jackie Li until an unexpected guest speaker walked into the classroom.

Edison International President and CEO Pedro Pizarro called Li to the front of the class to surprise her with the life-changing news: “Congratulations, you’re an Edison Scholar, Jackie!”

“It was unbelievable. I kept thinking, ‘Is this for real? Is this really for me?’” said Li. “I don’t think I can fully comprehend the scale of what this means. I need to sit down.”

Li is among 30 high school seniors in Southern California Edison’s service area who earned a $50,000 Edison scholarship to study science, technology, engineering or math (STEM), cybersecurity or data analytics. Edison Scholars are also eligible for a paid summer internship with SCE upon completing their first year of school.

For Li, the immediate future is to major in chemistry. Through her teachers and various science competitions, Li found a love for environmental science and how it intersects with other scientific fields such as biology, chemistry and physics.

“I grew up in rural China, where it was mainly farmland, and you can see for miles on a clear day,” said Li. “However, in Los Angeles, when you look out toward the mountains, you see a layer of yellow smog and can’t really see the stars. I find a drastic difference between the two environments, and I don’t want L.A. to continue to be like this. I want to do something for the environment, make the world a better place and make an impact on the future.”

For the first time since 2019, students received the scholarship news with in-person surprise check presentations delivered by Edison representatives during school events that included a pep rally, an open house and in-classroom visits.

“The Edison Scholars Program is all about helping students achieve their dreams. Meeting these talented students and their families is the most fun I have in my job every year,” said Pizarro, who was joined in the classroom by Li’s mother, grandmother, school counselors, administrators and district representatives. “It is so gratifying to help bright and motivated students pursue their passion, be successful in college and lead the transition to a clean energy future. We believe in Jackie and all the scholars and hope they come to work with us someday.”

“I came to the United States as a Chinese immigrant when I was in kindergarten. Now, I am the first in my family to go to college in the U.S. It is nice to carry on the legacy,” Li said.

The morning was even more significant for her mother, YangYan Ou, from the surprise announcement to watching the newly named Edison Scholar pose for photo ops with school officials. “I am very proud of her. She has worked very hard for a long time,” Ou said, beaming with pride.

Li explained how the scholarship would allow her to forgo a part-time job: “This scholarship will allow me to pursue things like a paid internship in a research lab instead of just getting a job for the money.”

Edison International, the parent company of SCE, is one of the largest corporate philanthropic contributors in Southern California. The Edison Scholars Program is funded entirely by Edison International shareholders.

SCE will host a reception to celebrate Li and all the 2023 Edison Scholars at the company’s Rosemead headquarters on May 5. To learn more about the Edison Scholars, visit the Edison Scholar 2023 Spotlight Page.

CONTRIBUTORS

PHOTO CREDIT: ERNESTO SANCHEZ

VIDEO CREDIT: ERNESTO SANCHEZ AND ROBERTO LAZARTE

This time of year we celebrate mothers and all caregivers who take on the critical role of protector and nurturer. Mother figures are strong; they are resilient; and they create the conditions that allow others to grow and thrive. But this doesn’t just apply to people—mothers are just as important to forests. Every forest has “mother trees”: certain species of fully-grown, reproductive trees that allow forests to establish themselves, adapt to adversities and develop for the long-term.

In the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, the juçara palm tree plays that caregiver role. These trees are resilient and healthy and less impacted by pests and disease. They grow taller and faster than other species and establish the canopy that protects more sensitive trees from the hot sun or pelting rain. They produce plentiful, genetically robust seeds that have a better chance of surviving once planted. The seeds are also a critical food source for threatened wildlife species.

Unfortunately, after centuries of deforestation—only around 12% of the original Atlantic Forest exists in Brazil—and over-harvesting for their palm hearts, juçara palm mother trees are getting harder and harder to find. If we want to save the Atlantic Forest, a critical source of water for more than 145 million people (60% of Brazil’s population) and home to wildlife species like jaguars, sloths, and toucans, we can’t lose these mother trees.

That’s why HP and World Wildlife Fund are working in collaboration with our local, on-the-ground partners, like REGUA, to reseed native juçara palm mother trees through a comprehensive forest landscape restoration effort that will help the forests and all of its diverse species thrive in the long-term. Together, we’re developing a data bank of mother trees so that we can keep a record of their location and progress. The team in Brazil then goes to physically collect their seeds, nurtures the seedlings, and plants them in restoration areas.

With HP’s support, since 2019, the local teams in the Atlantic Forest have planted more than 390,735 seedlings of 220 different species of plants, including the juçara palm. These mother trees will help provide protection for the other species, allowing our restoration areas to transform from planted saplings into thriving forests. And that also means more mother trees to provide seeds for the next generation of forest restoration.

Learn more about how HP and WWF are partnering to conserve nearly 1 million acres of forests, and their mother trees.