A few cents donated each month from members of the North Arkansas Electric Cooperative have resulted in 18 high school graduates sharing $18,000 in scholarship funds for the 2019-2020 academic year.
NAEC implemented Operation Round Up in 2005 where members have their monthly electric bill “rounded up” to the next highest dollar. Donations are tax deductible, and participants are sent a summary of their yearly contributions each January/February.
The 18 scholarship recipients include five who plan to attend Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, three who have indicated they will be attending Ozarka College in Melbourne and 10 will receive $1,000 each to attend the university of their choice.
The five attending ASUMH and the high school from which they graduated are Hunter Beshears, Mountain Home; Bentley Branscum, Norfork: Holly Dixon, Cotter; Lynssey Foster, Viola; and Cade Whiteaker, Calico Rock.
The three attending Ozarka and the high school from which they graduated are Halley Abney and Suzonee Harber, Salem; and Justic Hicks, Calico Rock.
The 10 attending the university of their choice and the high school from which they graduated are Macy Dillard and Kinley Stowers, Norfork; Devyn Slaughter, Mountain Home; Kevin Walker, Cotter; Hayden Ekenes and Caleb Rushin, Izard County; Cameron Henley, Madeline Newman and Allyson Walsh, Salem; and Jacob Powell, Highland.
All Operation Round Up donations are placed in a trust and administered by an independent board of directors called the North Arkansas Electric Trust. The trust is made up of community leaders serving on a voluntary basis.
The board receives and evaluates all requests, determines who receives funding and how all Operation Round Up monies will be distributed. Since its inception, the cooperative has awarded over $146,000 in educational scholarships and has assisted community organizations with project grants.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI