La Plata Electric Association names college scholarship recipients
Academic achievements of seven area high school seniors recognized
Durango, CO – Recipients of the 2014-2015 La Plata Electric, John Voelker Memorial, Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Tri-State Generation and Transmission scholarships have been announced by La Plata Electric Association (LPEA).
The 30th Annual LPEA College Scholarships, two four-year scholarships (up to $7000 annually or $28,000 for tuition, books and fees), have been awarded to Bella Bussian, a senior at Durango High School, and Effie Nistler, a senior at Bayfield High School. Bussian plans to major in environmental studies at Colorado College, Colorado Springs. Nistler is heading to Brigham Young University to study chemical engineering.
Sean McLaughlin, a senior at Durango High School and Dylan Pearson, a senior at Ignacio High School, have been awarded LPEA’s 14th Annual John Voelker Memorial Scholarships, $10,000 for two years, for vocational, technical school or junior college.
McLaughlin will enroll in the San Juan College School of Energy in Farmington to pursue a career in oil & gas and welding, while Pearson will attend Eastern New Mexico University – Roswell to study for a range of professions – auto mechanic, HVAC technician and grounds maintenance. LPEA’s John Voelker Memorial Scholarship remembers former LPEA board member John Voelker, who was instrumental in creating the vocational scholarship. Voelker perished in the Egyptian Air plane crash in October of 1999.
Shane Bisogno, a senior at Durango High School, received the $1,000 Basin Electric Power Cooperative Scholarship. With plans to attend Arizona State University at Tempe, Bisogno will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.
Jared Engelken, a senior at Durango High School, and Bryant Mitchell, a senior at Bayfield High School, each received $500 scholarships from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. Engelken intends to study engineering at University of Colorado, Boulder. Mitchell will pursue a career in the health care industry and attend the University of Arizona in Tucson.
“We had many qualified students apply this year, but have only so many scholarships and awards,” 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 and LPEA/John Voelker Memorial 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. Those funds unable to be returned to members are then put back into the community – in this case, into college scholarships.
For further information or for questions regarding future scholarship opportunities, contact Jeannie Bennett at 970.382.3505, or [email protected].
LPEA, celebrating 75 years in 2014, provides to its more than 30,000 members, with nearly 41,000 meters, safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost, while being environmentally responsible.
For additional information, contact LPEA at 970.247.5786 or visit www.lpea.coop.
