May 8, 2025: Battery Council International and the BCI Foundation have selected the first recipients for a scholarship awards scheme unveiled last year.

BCI said on April 25 a total of $15,000 in scholarships had been awarded to a group of three students — who each received up to $5,000 in financial aid to support their studies in the 2025-2026 academic year.

The BCI Foundation was formed in recognition of BCI’s 100th anniversary last March and aims to support the next generation of leaders in STEM and the energy storage industry.

Scholarships fall into two categories. The BCI Battery Chemistry and STEM Scholarship supports individuals studying electrochemistry, science, technology, engineering, mathematics or a related technical discipline that will support energy storage applications.

In partnership with Women in the Global Battery Industry, BCI said it will ensure at least one woman recipient, as part of BCI’s efforts to foster diversity in the industry.

This year’s BCI Battery Chemistry and STEM Scholarship recipients are Sophia Anderson of Pennsylvania and Leaf Evergreen of Oregon.

Meanwhile, the BCI Community Scholarship supports individuals who are an employee or direct family member of an employee currently working in a BCI-member company. Summer Sapp of Kentucky was the 2025 recipient.

The scholarships are administered by the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, a group dedicated to providing funding for aftermarket education programs and research.

The BCI Foundation, a charitable entity, was initially funded in part by a $10,000 ‘challenge grant’ from battery separator specialist ENTEK. Battery separator supplier Daramic provided a separate $5,000.

Additional contributions to the BCI Foundation came from BCI’s centennial sponsors. They included Banner, C&D Trojan, Clarios, Crown Battery, Duncan, East Penn, EnerSys, GS Yuasa, Leoch Battery, Moura, Rolls Battery Engineering, Stryten Energy, Superior Battery, and US Battery Manufacturing Company.