In 1994, the Illinois Electric Cooperatives established what is known as the Illinois Electric Cooperative Memorial Scholarship Fund as a means of honoring deceased members of the electric cooperative family.  Every year, SouthEastern Illinois Electric Cooperative sends information to all of the schools in the 10 county service area with instructions on how students can apply for these scholarships.  This year, the program awarded five scholarships in the amount of $1,250 each that can be used at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational/technical school in the United States.  The scholarship must be used for educational costs, and the student must enter college within one year from the time the scholarship is awarded.

Scholarships are awarded based upon grade point average, college entrance test scores, work and volunteer experience, participation in school and community activities, biographical statement and knowledge of cooperatives, as demonstrated by a short essay. 

This year, the IEC Memorial Scholarship program received 256 applicants for these five scholarships.  With that much competition from across the state of Illinois, SouthEastern is very proud to inform you that one of these five scholarships was awarded to one of Goreville High School's graduating seniors, Mr. Ian Hardcastle.  Ian currently resides in Creal Springs, Illinois and has informed SouthEastern that he will be attending Southern Illinois University at Carbondale for the fall semester of 2006. 

SouthEastern also invites all twenty three area high schools to participate in a program known as the "Youth To Washington Tour".  Students are invited to participate by writing a one page essay on the subject, "Why I would like to visit Washington D.C."  Participating schools select the best essay written by their students and forward that essay to SouthEastern for evaluation by staff personnel.  The composers of the two best essays are awarded the opportunity to participate in a one day tour of the State's capital in Springfield, Illinois and then on to a one week, expense paid tour of our Nations capital in Washington D.C.  This year, the Cooperative is proud to announce the two winners of this contest were Miss Emmaline Archdale from Herod, Illinois attending Hardin County High School and Miss Erin Clark from Marion attending Marion High School.

SouthEastern Illinois Electric Cooperative congratulates these three individuals on their accomplishments and wishes them the best of luck in the future.  As you can see, your Cooperative is committed to the communities and the above is just a few examples of that commitment.

See you next month and as always, "We'll keep the lights on for you."