Scholarships from the Avangrid Foundation and Fundación Iberdrola España will help 13 students conduct post-graduate research into energy, the environment and data science.

The recipients will receive grants totaling $750,300 that cover the students’ enrollment, plus a stipend, as they pursue research at universities in Connecticut, Maine, New York, Oregon, and Edinburgh, Scotland.

“Understanding and meeting the world’s energy needs, and protecting the environment, are challenges that are closely linked,” said Robert D. Kump, president of Avangrid Foundation. “This scholarship program will help to ensure that some of the brightest young minds are focused on finding solutions to these issues.”

The Avangrid Foundation is dedicated to supporting projects and organizations that enhance the quality of life in communities served by AVANGRID companies. Fundación Iberdrola España is the charitable foundation of Iberdrola, S.A., AVANGRID’s corporate affiliate.

“I am thankful to the Avangrid Foundation for enabling me to pursue my graduate studies and research on offshore renewable energy,” said Caitlyn Elizabeth Clark, who is pursuing her studies at Oregon State University. “Through my research and the Avangrid Foundation’s support, I plan to advance computational tools that will enable industry members, policy makers and the public to make more informed, responsible decisions as the U.S. and the world move towards greater offshore renewable energy development.”

Global energy leader Iberdrola initially established the global scholarship program in 2010 to support graduate studies in the field of energy, with a special focus on renewable energy development, environmental protection, climate change and energy efficiency.

Since the program started, Iberdrola and its charitable foundations in Spain, the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico and Brazil have awarded nearly 600 scholarships to students from around the world. In 2016, the foundations awarded 142 scholarships for the 2016-2017 academic year, worth more than $3.9 million. That’s four times more scholarships than the program’s inaugural year, 2010, and six times the value.

This year’s recipients include:

Binghamton University, New York, USA

  • Edward Cheswick of Kings Park, New York
  • Mark A. Freithaler of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Oregon State University, Oregon, USA

  • Caitlyn Elizabeth Clark of Lake Oswego, Oregon

Rochester Institute of Technology, New York, USA

  • Jamie Sánchez-Ferragut Ardura of Madrid, Spain (funded by Fundación Iberdrola España)
  • Marta De Guzman of Málaga, Spain (funded by Fundación Iberdrola España)
  • Sergio Mendez Delegido of Torre Pacheco, Spain (funded by Fundación Iberdrola España)

University of Connecticut, USA

  • Alexandra Longacre of Griswold, Connecticut

University of Edinburgh, Scotland

  • Anna Guasco of Ventura, California

University of Maine, USA

  • Gregory McDonald of North Syracuse, New York
  • Michael Choiniere of Garland, Maine

University of Rochester, New York, USA

  • David Villarreal Sardina of Guardo, Spain (funded by Fundación Iberdrola España)
  • Javier Yuguero Nadal of Madrid, Spain (funded by Fundación Iberdrola España)
  • Ulrik Soderstrom of Rochester, New York

AVANGRID is the parent company of NYSEG and RG&G in New York; Central Maine Power and Maine Natural Gas in Maine; and United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas in Connecticut. It is also the corporate parent of Avangrid Renewables, with headquarters in Portland, Oregon.

About Avangrid Foundation: Avangrid Foundation coordinates and funds energy sustainability, environmental, social responsibility and educational programs in areas where AVANGRID and its subsidiaries operate. For more information, please visit our website: www.avangrid.com.

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE:AGR) is a diversified energy and utility company with $30 billion in assets and operations in 25 states. The company operates regulated utilities, and renewable electricity generation, through two primary lines of business. Avangrid Networks includes eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving 3.1 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables operates 6.3 gigawatts of electricity capacity, primarily through wind power, in states across the U.S. AVANGRID employs 7,000 people. The company was formed by a merger between Iberdrola USA and UIL Holdings in 2015. IBERDROLA S.A. (Madrid:IBE), a worldwide leader in the energy industry, owns 81.5% of AVANGRID. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.

The following quotes from scholarship recipients are available for the media to use:

I am so grateful to the AVANGRID Foundation, not only for the scholarship, which will allow me to focus on my master’s degree without the financial burden, but also for the honor and privilege of meeting the King and Queen of Spain, and the President of Iberdrola in Madrid. I will carry this life-changing experience with me throughout my career. This experience was “eye-opening”, and has reinforced my desire to focus on researching alternative energy sources and creating a greener future. Please accept my deepest appreciation and gratitude. — Edward Cheswick, Binghamton University, New York, USA

AVANGRID Foundation has powered homes, hospitals, and minds with their power. Now, I am proud to say they have also lit my soul alight, and I am eager for more! The AVANGRID Foundation has set a beautiful example of what it means to be a citizen of the world, and I hope to spread their outstanding values as I continue my journey. — Mark A. Freithaler, Binghamton University, New York

I am thankful to the Avangrid Foundation for enabling me to pursue my graduate studies and research on offshore renewable energy. Through my research and Avangrid’s support, I plan to advance computational tools that will enable industry members, policy makers, and the public to make more informed, responsible decisions as the U.S. and the world move towards greater offshore renewable energy development. — Caitlyn Elizabeth Clark, Oregon State University, Oregon

I am very grateful for this scholarship. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, studying in the Rochester Institute of Technology. My Master of Engineering in Sustainable Engineering program will help me to acquire the knowledge, innovative skills and experience in order to succeed in today's developing energetic world. — Jamie Sánchez-Ferragut Ardura, Rochester Institute of Technology, New York

Iberdrola has not only given me the opportunity of taking a leap in my career, but also offers me a unique experience abroad — while promoting the changes that we, as a generation, seek to implement in the world. — Marta Borrego De Guzman, Rochester Institute of Technology, New York

The Iberdrola Scholarship represents to me an incredible opportunity to increase my knowledge in the sustainability area in one of the top universities in the USA. In addition I am very glad for this scholarship as it will represent a major step in my career and also the recognition of one of the most important companies in the renewable energies area.” — Sergio Mendez Delegido, Rochester Institute of Technology, New York

I am extremely grateful to Iberdrola and Avangrid Foundation for the scholarship, which will provide me with the opportunity to focus on learning and research during my studies in Materials Science and Engineering. I am looking forward to diving into research in Materials Science and Engineering and discovering ways in which Materials Science can be used to protect the environment and to conserve energy. — Alexandra Longacre, University of Connecticut

The Avangrid Foundation Scholarship generously gives me the outstanding opportunity to pursue a master of science in Environment, Culture and Society at the University of Edinburgh. As a student of the humanities and social sciences, I am grateful to receive this scholarship, not only for allowing me to pursue this master’s degree abroad, but also for validating the importance of humanistic and socio-cultural inquiry in shaping a more just, equitable and sustainable world. — Anna Guasco, University of Edinburgh

The scholarships that are provided by the Avangrid Foundation for postgraduate education are integral in influencing sustainable changes to the energy industry today. Without the help of these scholarships, many students would not have the freedom to strictly pursue their interests. I am so thankful for the opportunities this scholarship has afforded me thus far, as well as the opportunities it will present throughout my time at the University of Maine and even after. — Gregory McDonald, University of Maine

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity Avangrid Foundation has granted me through this scholarship. The funding will allow me to channel all my energy and focus into my research without the distraction of a part-time job. It will help me produce high quality work that will not only advance my progress towards a graduate degree, but also advance our progress toward cleaner energy. — Michael Choiniere, University of Maine

A dream came true with this Iberdrola scholarship. Thanks to Iberdrola, I will be able to pursue my studies in renewable energy in USA, and I am completely sure it will help me devote my future professional life in the area I always wanted. — David Villarreal Sardina, University of Rochester

The Iberdrola scholarship represents a great opportunity for young people to evolve in the academic field. Having the chance of studying a master's degree in the USA is, without any doubt, the best way of preparing for the future. Furthermore, the master I have chosen, Master of science in technical entrepreneurship and management at the University of Rochester, is the one I think fits the best with an engineering profile: it combines the technical aspects with the fields of markets, economics, initiative, management and leadership. — Javier Yuguero Nadal, University of Rochester

The Avangrid Foundation has empowered me to pursue a Master's Degree in Data Science at the University of Rochester. Data Science is the intersection of computer science and computational statistics with multidisciplinary applications in data mining, environmental modeling, database systems, energy system organization and more. I greatly appreciate this scholarship as it is pivotal to my academic career and growth as a leader! — Ulrik Soderstrom, University of Rochester, N.Y.

AVANGRIDMichael A. West, Jr., 203-499-3858michael.west@avangrid.com

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