BCI Foundation

In recognition of Battery Council International’s 100th anniversary on March 21, 2024, the BCI Foundation was established to support the next generation of leaders in the energy storage industry.

Battery Council International (BCI) has opened the application process for its annual BCI Foundation scholarships, with awards of up to $5,000 available for individuals studying in the 2026-2027 academic year.

The online application portal is available at automotivescholarships.com/apply-online. Applications will be accepted through March 31, 2026.

Funds provided by the BCI Foundation will be directed to two separate scholarship awards including:

  • The BCI Battery Chemistry and STEM Scholarship, offered in partnership with Women in the Global Battery Industry, will award $5,000 to individuals studying electrochemistry, science, technology, engineering, mathematics or a related technical discipline that will support energy storage applications.
  • The BCI Community Scholarship will award $5,000 to an individual who is an employee or direct family member of an employee currently working in a BCI-member company.

Congratulations to the 2025-26 Scholarship Winners!

Battery Council International (BCI) and the BCI Foundation announced the first class of BCI Scholars in April 2025, a group of three students that were each selected for up to $5,000 in financial aid to support studies in the 2025-2026 academic year.

First, the BCI Battery Chemistry and STEM Scholarship supports individuals studying electrochemistry, science, technology, engineering, mathematics or a related technical discipline that will support energy storage applications. In partnership with Women in the Global Battery Industry (WGBI), BCI will ensure at least one woman recipient as part of BCI’s efforts to foster diversity in the industry. This year’s BCI Battery Chemistry and STEM Scholarship recipients are Sophia Anderson of Schwenksville, Pa., and Leaf Evergreen of Hillsboro, Ore.

Separately, The BCI Community Scholarship supports individuals who are an employee or direct family member of an employee currently working in a BCI-member company. Summer Sapp of Russell Springs, Ky., was the 2025 recipient of the BCI Community Scholarship.

Current Scholarship Opportunities

Full instructions and details on the process can be found at automotivescholarships.com/scholarships/bci-foundation.

Scholarship awards will be provided for students in the following areas.

The BCI Battery Chemistry and STEM Scholarship will distribute $5,000 to individuals studying electrochemistry, science, technology, engineering, mathematics or a related technical discipline that will support energy storage applications. In partnership with the Women in the Global Battery Industry, BCI will select at least one woman recipient each year as part of BCI’s efforts to foster diversity in the industry.

The BCI Community Scholarship will distribute $5,000 to an individual who is an employee or direct family member of an employee currently working in a BCI-member company.

The BCI Foundation was funded by initial donations of more than $115,000 from a group of founding donors committed to education and the energy storage industry.

Any corporate or private donors who donate more than $5,000 to the BCI Foundation during BCI’s centennial celebration year shall be recognized as Founding Donors.  Additional and anonymous donations have also been pledged to support and grow the BCI Foundation.

The BCI Foundation is an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable entity. Donations to the BCI Foundation are tax deductible.

The application process will be administered in partnership with the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, a group dedicated to providing funding for aftermarket education programs and research. To learn more about the organization, visit uofa-foundation.org.

Donate

You can make your own donation to the BCI Foundation via this link.

Founding Donors of the BCI Foundation

Thank you to the generous founding sponsors of these scholarship efforts: Banner, C&D Trojan, Clarios, Crown Battery, Daramic, Duncan Battery, East Penn Manufacturing, EnerSys, ENTEK, GS Yuasa, Leoch Battery, Moura Group, Surrette Battery Company (Rolls Battery Engineering), Stryten Energy, Superior Battery and U.S. Battery Manufacturing Company.

Banner logo
C&D Trojan logo
Clarios logo
Crown Battery logo
Daramic logo
Duncan logo
East Penn
EnerSys logo
ENTEK logo
GS YUASA logo
LEOCH Battery logo
Moura logo
Rolls Battery Engineering logo
Stryten Energy logo
Superior Battery Manufacturing logo
U.S. Battery Manufacturing Company logo
Chad Schuchmann, Daramic

That close knit community of BCI and this industry, it allows us to work to make a better world and makes us better business leaders.

Chad Schuchmann, President, Daramic