JUNO BEACH, Fla.- (June 8, 2018) — Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) announced today that it has awarded Pembroke Pines student Luis F. Andreu, a $20,000 scholarship through the company’s charitable foundation, the NextEra Energy Foundation. Andreu will receive $5,000 annually up to a total of $20,000 to assist him throughout his college career. The 17-year-old West Broward High School robotics student will be attending The Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta where he will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.
“At FPL, we’re working with the communities we serve to help make Florida an even better place to work and raise a family. One way we do this is by investing in STEM and robotics education. Participation in robotics programs helps students build critical leadership and work-related skills in technology and innovation,” said Pamela Rauch, vice president of external affairs and economic development for FPL. “FPL’s commitment is widespread, from sponsoring robotics teams throughout the state to identifying and supporting stellar students, like Luis, in our effort to build the next generation of engineers.”
Andreu is ranked second in his graduating class of 630 seniors. He has been involved in robotics for the last four years and his team, BOTCATS, that launched in 2013, won the Orlando Regional competition for the first time in March, which qualified them for a trip to the FIRST (For Inspiration & Recognition of Science & Technology) Championship in Houston in April.
“With my father in the military we moved around a lot, but I knew when I came to Pembroke Pines and joined the robotics team my freshman year that I had found my passion,” said scholarship winner Andreu. “FIRST robotics provided so many opportunities for me, like great friends, supportive teachers and mentors and even applying for this scholarship. I knew there were so many qualified candidates though because FIRST Robotics is such a great program with so many smart kids in it. I feel really lucky to have been selected.”
FPL has a longstanding commitment to ensure students have access to effective robotics programs to drive student engagement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curricula. In many cases, these programs also help break down barriers and provide more opportunities to traditionally underserved populations. The scholarship is an integral part of the company’s involvement in this educational sector.
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About Florida Power & Light Company:
Florida Power & Light Company is the third-largest electric utility in the United States, serving nearly 5 million customer accounts or an estimated 10 million+ people across nearly half of the state of Florida. FPL's typical 1,000-kWh residential customer bill is approximately 30 percent lower than the latest national average and among the lowest in the U.S. FPL's service reliability is better than 99.98 percent, and its highly fuel-efficient power plant fleet is one of the cleanest among all utilities nationwide. The company was recognized in 2017 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities by Market Strategies International for the fourth consecutive year. A leading Florida employer with approximately 8,700 employees, FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its efforts in sustainability, ethics and diversity, and has been ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry in Fortune's 2018 list of "World's Most Admired Companies." NextEra Energy is also the parent company of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.