City Electric Supply (CES) Announces 2025 Brighter Future Scholarship Winners

City Electric Supply (CES), Dallas, TX, announced the recipients of the 2025 Brighter Future Scholarship. Ten students across North America have each been selected to receive $2,000 and a Milwaukee Tool starter kit to help launch their careers in the electrical trade.

The winners are Jose Irizarry-Negron from Avon Park, FL; Jason Ortiz from Tampa, FL; Jeremiah Ambrose from Madison, AL; Andrew Stallings from Concord, NC; Jabril Lassiter from Commerce, GA; Max Michael from Oxford, MS; Gabriel Foti from Cary, NC; Joshua Rivera-Clara from Leadville, CO; Aidan Thompson from Normal, IL; and Adriel Adarkwah from London, Ontario.

Launched by CES Cares, the social impact division of CES, the Brighter Future Scholarship is designed to support students pursuing trade school or certification programs in electrical work. With demand for skilled electricians continuing to rise across North America, CES is committed to empowering the next generation with the resources and tools they need to succeed.

“These students represent the future of our industry, and their stories are truly inspiring,” said CES Cares Social Impact Manager Karen Gray in the press release. “We’re honored to help support their journeys and can’t wait to see the impact they’ll make as they grow in their careers.”

Each winner came from a different path with unique experiences, but what they all have in common is their aspiration to make an impact on the industry.

Jeremiah Ambrose, 27, has long been drawn to the electrical trade, inspired by his grandfather’s experience running an independent contracting business.

“I want to open my own business, and eventually I want to give other people opportunities to learn as well. I have nieces and nephews who don’t know what they want to do in life, and I want to show them that this is an option,” he said. Jeremiah will be attending J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College.

Joshua Rivera-Clara, 25, discovered a fresh start in the electrical trade. “I wasn’t on the greatest path before, but ever since I joined the trade, I’ve been prospering and growing,” he said. “This scholarship will not only impact my future, but it will also impact the people around me. People will see how much my life has changed.” Joshua is training with Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) RockyMountain.

Max Michael, 21, demonstrates extraordinary dedication, commuting 120 miles daily to attend school. “I’m in my second week of classes and I’ve already learned so much. It can be challenging at times, but that’s what makes it exciting, as I get to constantly learn new things. That’s why I make the drive every day,” he said. Max is attending Northwest Mississippi Community College.

The winners’ stories represent the growing opportunities in the skilled trades. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of electricians is projected to grow nine percent from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than the average for all occupations. In Canada, Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC)estimates the country will need close to 28,000 new electricians and electrical contractors by 2028, representing roughly a quarter of the current workforce.

City Electric Supply is ranked #7 on Electrical Wholesaling's 2025 Top 100 Distributors ranking