January 29, 2007

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., Jan. 29, 2007—Edison International has selected two Orange County schools as winners in its New Era Awards For Excellence in K-12 Education competition.  The awards recognize schools that support innovative solutions for keeping at-risk students engaged in school and focused on academic success.

El Camino Real High School in Placentia was awarded $6,000, while Manuel Esqueda Elementary School in Santa Ana was awarded $5,000.

The schools were among the 19 winners recently awarded a total of nearly $150,000 in the latest round of the company’s annual competition for public and private schools, now in its 16th year.  Winning programs in the New Era competition support science and mathematics learning, college preparation, environmental and/or energy-efficiency programs, and after-school programs that enhance learning and achievement.

El Camino Real’s winning program, “Solar Connections,” will involve high school students in the construction of solar race cars, solar ovens, and small solar power stations.

Manuel Esqueda‘s “Ocean Inspiration” project will teach elementary students about the ocean and ocean animals.

“The New Era program is designed to support worthy outreach programs that might otherwise fail to get funding,” said Larry Labrado, a public affairs region manager for Southern California Edison, the utility unit of Edison International.  “All of the project winners did a good job of coming up with creative ways of encouraging students to learn.”

New Era grants range from $5,000 to $10,000.  They are awarded on the basis of how well the educational activities prepare underserved students for academic success, higher education, and a competitive work force.

Edison International is a longtime supporter of education.  Since 1960, the company has provided thousands of college scholarships to deserving students.  Edison also has provided volunteers, technical expertise, in-kind donations, and financial assistance to a wide variety of educational enrichment programs designed to benefit Southern California youth.

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Based in Rosemead, Calif., Edison International (NYSE: EIX) is the parent company of Southern California Edison and Edison Mission Group.