La Plata Electric Association names college scholarship recipients

Academic achievements of seven area high school seniors recognized

DURANGO, Colo. – The 2019 scholarships presented annually by La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) to high school graduates within its service territory in Durango and La Plata counties, have been announced by the cooperative.

(L-R) Animas High School seniors Alma Wolf received the $1,000 Basin Electric Power Cooperative Scholarship, Ethan Holst was awarded one of LPEA’s four-year scholarships valued at $28,000 and Cecelia Compton accepted a $500 Tri-State Generation & Transmission scholarship.

Ethan Holst, a 2019 graduate of Animas High School, and Kyla Thomas, a 2019 graduate of Durango High School, have received the 35th Annual LPEA College Scholarships, four-year scholarships (up to $7,000 annually or $28,000 total for tuition, books and fees). Holst will major in electrical engineering at the University of Puget Sound. Thomas plans to study for a future career in business at the University of Colorado at Boulder’s Leed’s School of Business.

LPEA’s 19th Annual John Voelker Memorial Scholarship – $10,000 for two years for vocational, technical school or junior college – has been awarded to Lucas Roderick a 2019 graduate of Ignacio High School. He will attend the technical institute Montana State University-Northern, and study diesel technology, agriculture mechanics and welding.

Jaylin Mattice is the recipient of the 3rd Annual LPEA Lineman Scholarship. A 2019 graduate of Durango High School, he is enrolled in the Electrical Lineworker Program at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction.

Alma Wolf, a graduate of Animas High School, received the $1,000 Basin Electric Power Cooperative Scholarship. She will attend the University of Virginia, planning to study political science, economics, and chemistry.

Animas High School graduate Cecilia Compton and Durango High School graduate Emma Jaber each received $500 scholarships from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. Compton has an interest in environmental protection and renewable energy and will attend Pitzer College, part of The Claremont Colleges in California. Jaber will advance her education and love of learning at Seattle University in Washington State.

“There are so many qualified students, but we 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, John Voelker Memorial and Lineman 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.

Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Tri-State Generation and Transmission grant the additional cash awards.

For further information or for questions regarding future scholarship opportunities, contact Jeannie Bennett at 970.382.3505, or jbennett@lpea.coop.

LPEA, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative established in 1939, provides to its more than 33,000 members, with in excess of 42,000 meters, safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost, while being environmentally responsible. For additional information, visit www.lpea.coop.