Recipients of the 2016-2017 La Plata Electric, John Voelker Memorial, Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Tri-State Generation and Transmission scholarships have been announced by La Plata Electric Association.
The 32nd annual LPEA College Scholarships, two four-year scholarships (up to $7,000 annually or $28,000 for tuition, books and fees), have been awarded to Austin McCaw, graduating from Ignacio High School, and Garrett Moore, graduating from Animas High School. McCaw, the son of Ed and Kelly McCaw, plans to major in engineering at Fort Lewis College. Moore is heading to Grand Canyon University, in Phoenix, to study mechanical engineering and business.
Michael Kuhl, earning his degree through Rocky Mountain Digital Academy, Pagosa Springs, and Matthew McLaughlin, graduating from Durango High School, have been awarded LPEA's 16th Annual John Voelker Memorial Scholarships, $10,000 for two years for vocational, technical school or junior college.
Kuhl will attend Pueblo Community College and study business and computer engineering, while McLaughlin will attend San Juan College in Farmington to study welding and mechanics. LPEA's John Voelker Memorial Scholarship remembers former LPEA board member John Voelker, who was instrumental in creating the vocational scholarship. Voelker perished in the Egyptian Air plane crash in October 1999.
Lauren Fortney, graduating from Pagosa Springs High School, received the $1,000 Basin Electric Power Cooperative Scholarship. With plans to attend Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Fortney is pursuing a career in hospitality and tourism.
Benjamin Lachelt, graduating from Durango High School, and Nicholas Tarasewicz, graduating from Animas High School, each received $500 scholarships from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. Lachelt intends to pursue environmental studies at the University Redlands, California. Tarasewicz will advance his education in mathematics and energy research at the University of Denver.
"We had many qualified students apply this year, but have only so many scholarships," said Jeannie Bennett, coordinator of LPEA's scholarship process. "All of our scholarship recipients are great students with exciting potential. At LPEA we are proud to be able to offer these educational opportunities."
Funds for the LPEA and LPEA/John Voelker Memorial Scholarships come from LPEA's unclaimed Capital Credits. Each year, LPEA endeavors to find "missing" members who are due a share of retired Capital Credits or Patronage Capital. Those funds unable to be returned to members are then put back into the community - in this case, into college scholarships.
