RESOLUTION
Presented by Alderman Raymond Lopez on November 18, 2015.
WHEREAS, ComEd's Icebox Derby was founded in 2014 as a unique educational program designed to empower and encourage young women to explore opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields and help them discover their own path to innovation and creativity; and
WHEREAS, During this second year, 30 young girls, aged 13-18, worked in teams over a span of four weeks to build electric racecars from recycled refrigerators, sourced from ComEd's Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling Program; and
WHEREAS, On August 15, 2015, the 30 girls competed in a series of STEM challenges and raced their cars in a heated competition during the Icebox Derby Race Day event, held at The Field Museum in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, This year's Icebox Derby participants were recruited from ComEd's community partners, including Chicago Urban League, GirIs4Science, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana and Operation PUSH; and
WHEREAS, Each girl who completed the program received a $2,000 scholarship and every member ofthe winning team also received a MacBook Air, along with certificate to attend a technology training camp next summer; and
WHEREAS, Empowering the next generation of trailblazers and innovators, including women and girls, is just one of the ways that ComEd is partnering with the communities it serves. An important part of that commitment to diversity is recruiting bright young talent and empowering them to realize their full potential; and
WHEREAS, The Icebox Derby highlights ComEd's commitment to the environment and leverages the company's own Fridge and Freezer Recycling program; and
WHEREAS, As an innovation and technology company, ComEd is committed to building the workforce ofthe future, which will include these young, talented girls. Currently, only 24 percent of all STEM jobs in the U.S. are held by women and ComEd is working to bridge that gender gap by offering this unique STEM opportunity; and
WHEREAS, Special thanks should be extended to ComEd for its commitment to empower the next generation of innovators and inspire them to realize their full | potential, ultimately bridging the gender gap that persists in STEM fields; and
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and Members ofthe City Council, assembled this 18th Day of November, due hereby extend our congratulations to all 2015 Icebox
Derby participants and teams: Royal Burn, MotorPod, Fast & Flawless, and Spark Catchers; and offer special congratulations to 2015 Icebox Derby Champions, Flaming Zing members Mikayola Martinez, Chequita Grant, Sara Chin, Mackenna Clayton, and Morkyra Brown for their outstanding "girl power;"
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the members ofthe Flaming Zing, as well as to all participating team members ofthe 2015 Icebox Derby.
