The deadline for high school seniors to apply for scholarships and awards available through La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) is Tuesday, March 1. Applications can be downloaded at www.lpea.coop. Â
All high school seniors in La Plata and Archuleta counties, including home school students, who receive their electricity from LPEA, are eligible to apply for the variety of funding opportunities.
LPEA directly offers the LPEA Scholarship (four-year) and LPEA/John Voelker Memorial Scholarship (two-year), per LPEA Board of Directors policies No. 411 and 416, plus provides for additional affiliated rural electric scholarships/awards offered by Tri-State Generation and Transmission and Basin Electric Power Cooperative.
Specifically, LPEA will award two, four-year scholarships (140 credit hours) for students attending any college or university beginning with the 2016-2017 academic year. LPEA will cover tuition, books and fees, up to $28,000 over four years, given that the students maintain minimum qualifications.
The LPEA/John Voelker Memorial Scholarship recognizes two students attending accredited vocational schools, technical schools or junior college. This two-year scholarship covers fees, books, tools and supplies up to $10,000 over two years, per student.
Funds for the LPEA and LPEA/John Voelker Memorial Scholarships come from LPEA's unclaimed Capital Credits. Each year, LPEA attempts to find "missing" members who are due a share of retired Capital Credits. Those funds unable to be returned to members are then put back into the community - in this case, into college scholarships.
LPEA endeavors to train and educate local young people for positions they may ultimately secure at a rural electric cooperative, though this is not a requirement of the scholarships. Rural electric cooperatives are known nationally to provide stable employment, livable wages and solid benefit packages. LPEA is no exception and, with more than 100 employees, exists as one of the more significant employers in the region.
For further information on available scholarships and awards, or to download applications, visit www.lpea.coop. Direct questions to Jeannie Bennett at 382-3505, or jbennett@lpea.coop.
