Deadline nears for LPEA scholarship applications

Posted

By Indiana Reed

Special to The SUN

The deadline for high school seniors to apply for scholarships and awards available through La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) is Monday, March 3. Applications can be downloaded at www.lpea.coop.

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 2014-2015 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.

For further information on available scholarships and awards, or to download applications, visit www.lpea.coop. Direct any questions to Jeannie Bennett at 382-3505 or jbennett@lpea.coop.