Area High School Seniors Earn Electric Co-op College Scholarships
Three high school seniors from the service territory of Powell Valley Electric Cooperative have each received $1,000 college scholarships awarded by the Education Scholarship Foundation of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives.
The 2022 scholarship recipients are Kinley Cox, Claiborne High School; Addison Fleenor, Hancock County High School; and Storm Ramsey, Hancock County High School.
The students were eligible for consideration because their parents or guardians are members of Powell Valley Electric Cooperative.
“These scholarships reflect the strong commitment of electric cooperatives to advancing educational opportunities among our youth,” said Russell G. “Rusty” Brown, chair of the Education Scholarship Foundation Board and chair of the board of directors of the VMD Association. “We commend these students on their academic success, knowing they represent a future generation of leaders in their communities.”
The Foundation awarded Worth Hudson Scholarships of $1,000 each to 50 students. They are named in honor of Hudson, the first chairman of the VMDAEC Education Scholarship Foundation. All three Powell Valley Electric Cooperative students received the Worth Hudson Scholarship.
“We’re extremely proud to be able to help these deserving young people from electric cooperative service areas continue their education, whether at a college or university, or in learning a trade,” said Brian Mosier, president and CEO of the VMD Association.
Since 2001, the Foundation has provided approximately 840 scholarships totaling more than $860,000 to aspiring college students as well as to the next generation of electric lineworkers.
The Foundation is supported through tax-deductible donations and bequests from individuals, proceeds from fundraising events and CoBank’s Sharing Success Program. One hundred percent of donations go to students for scholarships. For information on donating to the Foundation, visit vmdaec.com/scholarship. 
TVA Partnership Awards Local Schools STEM Grant
Tennessee Valley Authority, in partnership with Bicentennial Volunteers, Inc., a TVA retiree organization, recently awarded Forge Ridge School and Hancock Elementary School $2,500 and $5,000, respectively, to develop science, technology, engineering, and math education projects to help spark student interest in future careers in STEM-related fields.
Teachers across TVA’s seven-state region applied for funding of up to $5,000 for projects, and 233 applications were selected. Schools who are awarded grants must receive their power from a local power company served by TVA. Forge Ridge School and Hancock Elementary School are both powered by Powell Valley Electric Cooperative.
“Congratulations to Forge Ridge School and Hancock Elementary School for being a TVA STEM grant recipient,” said Brad Coppock, Powell Valley Electric Cooperative’s General Manager. “These grants will aid schools in building the foundation on which tomorrow’s engineers and scientists will build their education. We are grateful to TVA for making an investment in our community’s youth and proud to be part of the process.”
Both schools used the grant to purchase hands-on materials to use in the classroom. Students will use these materials to develop a deeper understanding of STEM-based subjects.
“TVA is committed to supporting STEM education to help develop today’s students into tomorrow’s engineers, scientists and IT professionals,” said Jeannette Mills, TVA executive vice president and chief external relations officer. “It’s inspiring to be able to contribute to the innovators of the next generation.”
Since 2018, TVA and BVI have awarded nearly $2 million in STEM grants to support local education.
A full list of grant recipients, and information on how to apply for a future STEM grant can be found at www.tvastem.com.
2022 Washington Youth Tour short story winners
Congratulations to this year’s Washington Youth Tour delegates!
This June, winners will embark on what others before them have referred to as a “trip of a lifetime” – a weeklong, expense-paid trip to Electric Cooperative Youth Tour.
We are proud to offer this amazing opportunity to the youth in our community. Congratulations to all of these students for their accomplishments!
Winners of the 2022 Washington Youth Tour Writing Contest are:
1st Place: Cheyanne Mayes, J. Frank White Academy
2nd Place: Anna Hopkins, Hancock County High School
3rd Place: Carlie Napier, Cumberland Gap High School
4th Place: Hannah Daniels, J. Frank White Academy
