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For embargoed release: 08:00 PM – Wednesday, April 17, 2019

 San Isabel Electric awarded a total of $33,000 through its newly expanded scholarship program on Wednesday, April 17, at 6:00 p.m., at a scholarship banquet at John Mall High School in Walsenburg.

 Scholarship funding comes from unclaimed capital credits, money that the electric co-op tried to return to member-owners but went unclaimed. The current list of unclaimed capital credits was published in local newspapers April 4, 2019 and at siea.com/capitalcredits

 The $5,000 Powered-Up Scholarship, for the student who had a GPA of at least 3.5 and a SAT score of 1200 or higher was awarded to:

  1. Jordan Cruz- Pueblo West High School

Honoring tradition, Pueblo West High School, the school of the student receiving the $5,000 Powered-Up Scholarship, also received a $500 donation from the San Isabel Electric Board of Directors.

The Powered-Up $3,000 Scholarship runner-up recipients were:

  1. Mikayla Lerch – Pueblo West High School
  2. Marie Moore – Pueblo West High School

For the first time, the member-owned utility awarded five new scholarships in its newly expanded scholarship program.

Vocational Scholarships, for students attending an occupational training program of two-years or less at an accredited vocational school, technical school, community college, or junior college, were awarded to:

  1. Trystan Moltrer- Hoehne High School
  2. JoHannah McKinley- Primero High School
  3. Madison Gookin- Rye High School
  4. Brittany Miller- Rye High School
  5. Samuel Stosek- District 70 Online

At-Large Scholarships, for students who attend a high school outside of San Isabel Electric’s service territory whose parents or guardians are current San Isabel Electric member-owners, were awarded to:

  1. Frederic Schmid – Goal Academy High School
  2. Colton Ortiz – Pueblo South High School
  3. Erin Dionisio – Pueblo County High School

 

Twelve $1,000 San Isabel Electric Scholarships, for students who plan on attending accredited colleges and universities and whose parents or guardians are current San Isabel Electric member-owners, were awarded to:

  1. Kyle Ramsey – Aguilar High School
  2. Kamryn Baca-Cordova – Hoehne High School
  3. Kyle Rowe – Hoehne High School
  4. Kaitlyn Lasley – John Mall High School
  5. Armando Ruiz – John Mall High School
  6. Kyle Gomez – John Mall High School
  7. Kaylee Corsentino – La Veta High School
  8. Alexis Topping – La Veta High School
  9. Grace Gonzales – Pueblo West High School
  10. Emiree Sutton – Rye High School
  11. Joy Denigan – Rye High School
  12. Taylor Lauritzen – Rye High School
  13. Justin Duran – Trinidad High School

San Isabel Electric has been awarding scholarships since 2000. In 2019, San Isabel Electric awarded a total of 24 scholarships. In 2018, San Isabel Electric awarded a total of 22 scholarships totaling $33,500.

A total of 53 students applied for a scholarship from the local co-op. The San Isabel Electric Board of Directors scored the applicants based on their eligibility and completeness of their application, as well as their answers to a 300-word-essay about a leadership experience and must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. To complete the application, students were required to use the San Isabel Electric application form, provide a high school transcript and a letter of recommendation.

Eligibility requirements varied based on each scholarship opportunity. Information on the full eligibility requirements for each scholarship opportunity is available at siea.com/scholarships.

All scholarship opportunities require the applicant or the student’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) to be a current San Isabel Electric member-owner.

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As a not-for-profit cooperative utility, San Isabel Electric provides affordable, reliable electricity with exceptional service to communities throughout southern Colorado. Serving nearly 20,000 Member-owners and 24,000 meters, San Isabel Electric has been keeping the lights on since 1938. We don’t just serve communities. We are part of communities.