Young women in Illinois gear up for ComEd’s EV Rally to build and race electric go-karts while exploring STEM careers

The program combines clean energy education, STEM skills, and mentorship while offering scholarships to participants.

ComEd will host its third EV Rally in Chicago on July 26, bringing together 45 young women from across northern Illinois to build and race electric go-karts.

The program is designed to introduce students to clean energy technologies, teach STEM concepts, and connect them with female mentors working in science and engineering.

Hands-on learning with mentorship and scholarships

Over four build nights, participants worked with ComEd mentors to assemble high-tech electric go-karts while engaging in STEM challenges. The program concludes with a race at The Fields Commons, where teams will showcase their completed vehicles. Each student will receive a $2,000 scholarship after completing the program.

The program is open to female students aged 13 to 18. More than half of this year’s participants are from equity investment eligible communities, as defined by Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. Since its launch as the Icebox Derby in 2014, the program has supported 300 young women with more than $600,000 in scholarships.

Cheryl Maletich, senior vice president of transmission and substation at ComEd, says the event gives teens a chance to experience STEM outside the classroom. “The ComEd EV Rally program is an incredible way for teens to get out of the classroom and experience STEM hands-on supported by like-minded peers and talented mentors,” Maletich says.

“Careers in STEM fields are open to all, and we are committed to ensuring the next generation of women have opportunities for successful, rewarding and lucrative careers in STEM spaces. The energy and excitement that surround these future STEM leaders is electric, and we at ComEd are proud to support their continued pursual of STEM education.”

Building pathways into STEM careers

The event is a partnership with organizations including Griffin MSI, which supports expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups in STEM. Dr. Jessica Chavez, vice president of education and chief learning and community partnership officer at Griffin MSI, says the program reinforces long-term career development. “Our partnership with ComEd and EV Rally is an exciting way to showcase the passion of female students in our community, support the futures of historically underrepresented groups in the STE(A)M workforce, and inspire the inventive genius in everyone,” Chavez says.

Many former participants have gone on to internships, mentorships, and even careers within ComEd and its parent company Exelon. Evan Abraham, now an engineering design tech at ComEd, says the program helped shape her career path. “I participated in the ComEd Icebox Derby in 2016 as a student, and ComEd has been a key part of my professional growth ever since,” Abraham says.

“I began working at ComEd full time in 2023, and I am now lucky enough to volunteer in this year’s EV Rally. The program offered me a unique opportunity to expand my knowledge of STEM outside a classroom setting and gain hands-on experience in an all-girl environment. I was able to create and maintain connections with my mentors from across ComEd, and I’m proud to come full circle in this journey and give back to the talented young women participating in the program this year.”