Yvette Gonzalez didn’t expect to get a lesson in the laws of physics when she recently attended Upland High School’s eighth annual Trebuchet Pumpkin Launch.  

That day, 380 science students launched pumpkins and other projectiles across the school’s physical education field with trebuchets (catapults) they built themselves.

“One of the students let me launch a pumpkin from his team’s trebuchet,” said Gonzalez, a Southern California Edison (SCE) project manager for Philanthropy and Community Investment. “The students taught me that no matter the weight of an object on the trebuchet, it will land at the same time. We tried it with a pumpkin and a soda can and it was true!”

Gonzalez was in a teaching mode herself.

She spent the day educating the science-loving students about several $40,000 scholarships offered by Edison International, parent company of SCE. And she encouraged eligible students to apply.

The $1.2 million Edison Scholars Program offers 30 scholarships to high school seniors planning to study the science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) fields in college. Each $40,000 scholarship is paid over four years.

The application period for the 2013-2014 Edison Scholars Program is running now through Jan. 10, 2014.

Eligible students must be Southern California high school seniors who either live in or attend public or private high schools in SCE’s service area and plan to pursue college studies in the STEM fields. Students from low-income families and underrepresented communities are especially encouraged to apply.

Since 2006, Edison International has awarded almost $4 million in scholarships to 460 students.

“The Edison Scholars Program is an excellent opportunity for any high school student in our service area who has a 2.8 GPA or better, and wants to pursue higher education in the STEM fields,” said Tammy Tumbling, SCE director of Philanthropy and Community Investment. “If you know high school seniors who qualify and would benefit from the four-year scholarship, please pass the world along and encourage them to apply.”

Between pumpkin launches, Gonzalez spoke to juniors and seniors at Upland High School about the Edison Scholars Program. “Eight students said they would be applying and do qualify for the program,” she said.

Dave Geller, who teaches physics at Upland High School, couldn’t be happier.

“We have three Advanced Placement physics classes and seven more college prep physics classes and many of those kids will be applying for the college majors that qualify them for the Edison Scholars Program,” he said. “In 2008, four of my students received the scholarship, and in 2009, five of my kids received it.”

For more information and to apply, students can visit: www.scholarsapply.org/edisonscholars.

Scholarship recipients will be announced in April 2014 and recipients may also be eligible for summer internships at SCE after completing their second year of college. Dependents of Edison International employees are not eligible for the Edison Scholars Program.