Santa Clara, Calif. – June 1, 2006 – The City of Santa Clara and Silicon Valley Power (SVP), the City’s municipal electric utility, have awarded the first-ever student academic scholarships to three local seniors–Kyle Husmann and Ao “Arthur” Xu of Wilcox High school, and Chris Ringer, a student at Santa Clara High School.  Each winner receives $5,000 in his pursuit of a career in energy services, public power and/or the power industry.  The City of Santa Clara presented the tuition grants at a City Council meeting in mid-May.

Husmann, who will attend California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo this fall, will major in electrical energy, while Ringer, also headed for Cal Poly, plans to major in environmental engineering.  Xu will enter the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia with a double major in engineering and business. 

“I’m very excited that we were able to award the scholarships to such deserving and hard-working students!  It’s a wonderful start for the scholarship program,” says Voula Brown, Scholarship Award Program Manager.  “Congratulations to all of them and the best of luck in their educational endeavors.”

To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants had to be residents of the City of Santa Clara; enrolled in a two- or four-year university or a fully licensed or accredited technical school; and planning to enter a power or energy-related field.  Their applications were supplemented by school transcripts, a personal essay and three recommendations–two academic and one personal from a non-family member. 

“Thank you very much, Silicon Valley Power, for this scholarship which is an investment in my education,” says Husmann.  “I will be studying electrical engineering and would like my career to contribute to improving electrical energy creation and conservation.  I will not forget your generosity or the trust you have placed in me.”