Power52 Enters New Articulation Agreement
Power52 Foundation
Columbia, Maryland, July 15, 2024 – Howard Community College (HCC) proudly announces a new articulation agreement with the Power52 Foundation, co-founded by visionary Cherie Brooks and NFL Hall of Famer Ray Lewis. The agreement enables students who have completed Power52’s Energy Professional Training Program and Solar Curriculum to transfer to the HCC Skilled Building Trades associate degree (A.A.S.) program.
“This promising future for our students is part of our goal for workforce development as an anti-poverty, anti-racism catalyst for success among all Howard County residents,” said HCC President, Dr. Daria J. Willis. “We know that Solar Photovoltaic installation is among the fastest-growing trade careers, and we are excited to offer our students this opportunity to earn high-paying wages with job security and long-term growth potential through this innovative agreement.”
Power52’s Energy Professional Training Program includes 320 clock hours of classroom instruction and hands-on, real-world simulated lab hours. The curriculum covers the basic concepts of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems and their components. As outlined in the agreement, the specific credit allocation will be based on the extent of each student’s Power52 training program.
HCC will soon break ground on a new, campus-based workforce development and trades center. The trades center will be the first of its kind in the county, offer a training curriculum for skilled building trades, and directly address a growing statewide shortage of skilled workers in trades and technical fields.
“We are thrilled to partner with Howard Community College to create a transformative pathway for our graduates,” said Cherie Brooks, President & CEO of Power52 Foundation. “This agreement not only strengthens our commitment to sustainable energy but also empowers individuals with the skills and education necessary to secure higher-paying careers in the growing field of solar energy and contribute to the resilience and prosperity of our communities.”
The first clean energy private career school specializing in Solar PV installation to be approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission and accredited by the National Center for Construction, Education & Research (NCCER), Power52 is dedicated to a long-term community development strategy designed to break the cycles of poverty, unemployment, under-employment, and incarceration in urban communities while simultaneously advancing community resilience through sustainable energy.
Howard Community College was recently named among the nation’s top two-year colleges by Niche, an online college selection and data resource for families. HCC ranked #92 among all two-year institutions and the top community college in the Baltimore metropolitan area. HCC enrolls nearly 22,000 credit and non-credit students of all ages from more than 104 countries and yields more than $343 million in economic impact as one of Howard County’s largest employers.
