Each year, Chicago Engineers Foundation presents scholarship awards to high school and college students pursuing engineering careers. Many of the awards are fully funded by individuals, foundations, companies and professional associations. The IEEE Chicago is sponsoring a 2020 CEF Incentive Award for a Rising College Sophomore majoring in Electrical Engineering. The annual scholarship program presents up to $100,000 in total awards to students from neighborhoods across Chicago, attending universities both locally as well as throughout the country. Since its inception in 1969, the merit-based CEF Incentive Award program has provided scholarship awards to thousands of Chicago students.

The first recipient of the IEEE Chicago’s Award is Guadalupe Solis. Guadalupe is a 2019 graduate of the Air Force Academy High School. She is starting her Sophomore year at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), majoring in Electrical Engineering. Guadalupe is the first in her family to attend college. In addition to her studies, she is a member of the ROTC program, as well as a member of the IEEE chapter at UIC. Upon graduation from UIC, Guadalupe plans to become a commissioned officer in the United States Army Reserves, serving as a Combat Engineer.