News Releases

Company is the sole industry partner in the educational effort

DENVER - Xcel Energy announced today it will be the sole industry partner in a statewide effort to train and place 150 science and math teachers for the 2013-2014 academic year. The company is donating $50,000 to this effort, which helped leverage additional funding from a private foundation and the National Education Association, to bring the total money for the program to $400,000.
The Lt. Governor's Office and the Colorado Department of Education are developing a new statewide vision and plan for improving the Colorado Progressive Science and Progressive Math Initiative (PSI-PMI) STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)teacher training program. The program was implemented in New Jersey and has seen increased student achievement in math and science proficiency with more students participating and succeeding in advance placement (AP) courses.
"Improving STEM education is imperative for the energy business and other sectors as well as our overall economy," said David Eves, president and CEO of Public Service Co. of Colorado, an Xcel Energy company. "More than half of our current jobs require STEM degrees or extensive math or science skills. These are positions critical to our business."
Xcel Energy also plans to use this partnership to leverage the expertise and energy of its employees as mentors and volunteers in an effort to peak student interest in STEM careers and educational opportunities.
"In our business, we invest in what works. We innovate, test and replicate new technologies, processes and systems to provide better value for our customers and shareholders," said Eves. "We take this same approach with our charitable investments. What better way to invest, than to invest in people."
Xcel Energy in Colorado has been ranked as one of the most generous companies by The Denver Business Journal for the past five years. In 2012 the company's total giving in Colorado, including foundation grants, matching gifts for employee contributions and volunteer hours, and United Way was more than $3.5 million.

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