SAN DIEGO, June 12, 2008 – Sempra Energy today announced it has awarded more than $200,000 in college scholarships to 32 high school seniors as part of its annual scholarship program for children of employees.  This program offers support to the children of company employees as they continue their education at a four-year college or university, community college, or trade or technical school.
 
        “At Sempra Energy, we are committed to supporting the communities in which we operate,” said G. Joyce Rowland, senior vice president of human resources for Sempra Energy.  “Through this special scholarship program, we are pleased to be able to increase the educational opportunities for these students, who are our next generation of leaders.”

        The top scholarship applicants were interviewed by a panel of Sempra Energy executives to determine grand-prize winners.  All winners were selected based on academic and non-academic criteria, including:  academic achievement, leadership, community involvement, work experience, extra-curricular activities, educational goals, career aspirations and educators’ appraisals.

        Since the program’s inception in 1999, Sempra Energy has awarded more than $1.6 million in scholarship funds to 302 students.
 
        The scholarship winners can use the funds for tuition and fees, room and board, books and other required tools at a college or university.  The funds also may be used to pursue a trade such as computer programming, auto mechanics, welding, pipe-fitting or any other profession at an accredited vocational or technical school.

        The winners of the company’s grand-prize scholarship of $16,000 are:  from San Diego, Kelsey Curtis of James Madison High School, Brian Contratto of Rancho Bernardo High School, Alexander Jacobs of Serra High School, Shannon McClintock of Scripps Ranch High School, Nicole St. Marie of Cathedral Catholic High School and Jeffrey Tsao of Torrey Pines High School; and, from San Pedro, Calif., Brian Spears of Mary Star of the Sea High School. 
 
        The following California students will receive one-year, $4,000 scholarships:

        Laura Gregorich, Madison High School (San Diego)
        Kevin Yevchak, St. Augustine High School (San Diego)
        Brett Erickson, Carlsbad High School
        Sarah Colling, Escondido High School
        Lee Hewitt, Santa Fe Christian High School (Solana Beach)
        Kayla Lauzier, Helix Charter High School (La Mesa)
        Cole Mortland, Mt. Carmel High School (Poway)
        Carlos Vargas, Santana High School (Santee)
        Marco Mariscal, El Capitan High School (Lakeside)
        Nichole Hafer, Lutheran High School (Orange)
        Gabriel Ho, University High School (Irvine)
        Haylee Arimoto, West Ranch High School (Stevenson Ranch)
        La Mar Holley, Verbum Dei High School (Los Angeles)
        Andrew Thompson, Fairfax High School (Los Angeles)
        Cassandra Jasso, Walnut High School
        Stephanie Ting, Walnut High School
        Paul Watanabe, Moorpark High School
        Eric Liang, Whitney High School (Cerritos)
        Tia Ray, Central Union High School (El Centro)
        Meghann Stanford, Saint Joseph High School (La Habra)
        Kathryn Watson, Whittier Christian ISP

        Additionally, four California students will receive one-year, $1,500 scholarships:  Kevin Alvarado of Rancho Buena Vista High School in Vista; Christine Goguen of Point Loma High School; Dana Brewer of Abundant Grace Christian School in Lancaster; and
LeAnn Byford of Templeton High School.

        The 13,500 Sempra Energy employees whose children are eligible to apply for the scholarship program include those based both domestically and internationally with the parent company and its subsidiaries, including San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Gas Co., Sempra Generation, Sempra LNG and Sempra Pipelines & Storage.

        Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2007 revenues of more than $11 billion.  The Sempra Energy companies serve more than 29 million consumers worldwide.


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