A Bright Future for the Energy Industry

By Aleena Oakley and Gabbie Ulloa-Rodrigues 

After a series of impressive presentations, Team Charlotte took the top spot at the HBCU Energy Leadership Pathway Energy Summit.

In April, nine students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities across North Carolina and South Carolina gathered for the HBCU Energy Leadership Pathway Energy Summit, a collaboration between E4 Carolinas and SEI’s Energize Colleges program. Designed to build a more innovative and equitable energy workforce, the Pathway introduces students to industry careers through hands-on learning, mentorship, and professional development. 
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Working in teams, participants representing Livingstone College, Claflin University, North Carolina A&T State University, Johnson C. Smith University, North Carolina Central University, and Shaw University tackled a complex problem: reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a city’s transportation sector. Students examined who is most impacted, explored environmental justice impacts, and built solutions grounded in both analysis and lived realities. They presented before a panel of judges, sharing bold, actionable ideas for a more sustainable future.

Eleojo Usman-Aguda presents at the HBCU Energy Leadership Pathway Energy Summit.

Students also connected with industry professionals during a career panel and toured the Catawba Nuclear Station in York, South Carolina, bringing their learning to life. 

For many, the shift was personal. Vironika Paul, an environmental studies student at North Carolina A&T University, reflected, “This experience taught me the true meaning of leaving a space better than you found it … and [being] encouraged to do more, simply because you are surrounded by people who believe in you almost more than you believe in yourself.” 

“The Pathway has not only equipped me with industry-specific knowledge, but has also connected me with a community of mentors and peers who are dedicated to ensuring that the future of energy is inclusive,” said Eleojo Usman-Aguda, accounting and business administration student at Claflin University. “It has shifted my career trajectory from a general business professional to a specialized advocate for sustainable energy solutions.”

What began as a one-day summit became a moment of clarity, connection, and possibility for the future of the energy industry.
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The HBCU Energy Leadership Pathway is made possible through support from the Duke Energy Foundation, HASI Foundation, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, and other sponsors.

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