Pearl River Community College and Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association came together Thursday to celebrate 107 PRCC students receiving scholarships through the “Round Up for Education” program.
“The commitment of Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association has provided numerous opportunities for our students to continue their education,” PRCC President Dr. Adam Breerwood said. “The impacts on the surrounding communities will be everlasting. For many of our students, financial hurdles create barriers to their achievement in higher education. Partnerships like these remove those barriers and make those educational goals become a reality.”
This is the eighth year for the Round Up for Education scholarship program, which is funded by members who round their bills up to the nearest dollar each month. Scholarships are available to members who round up, as well as for their spouses or dependent children who are enrolled as freshmen this fall.
“This program was started in 2012 because we believed, and still do today, that education is the key to our financial future and to improving the quality of life of all our members in South Mississippi,” PRVEPA General Manager Randy Wallace said. “All of this is because of our membership rounding their power bill up to the nearest dollar.”
Since the Round Up program began in November 2012, more than $1.6 million has been collected and deposited in an account overseen by the PineBelt Foundation. Ten percent of each year’s funds are set aside in an endowed fund for future use. The remaining money is divided equally between the number of eligible applicants. This year that resulted in 175 scholarships, 107 being Pearl River students, worth $500 per student totaling in $53,500 in Pearl River scholarships. In the program’s eight years, 1,651 students have received scholarships.
Applications for 2021 scholarships will be available beginning in November.
For the latest news on Pearl River Community College, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on Twitter (@PRCC_Wildcats) Instagram](PRCCWILDCATS) and Facebook(@PRCCMKTG).
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Pearl River Community College offers equal education and employment opportunities. The College does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, veteran status, or disability. For inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies or to request accommodations, special assistance, or alternate format publication please contact Tonia M. Seal, Director of Admissions and Records/ ADA/Civil Rights Coordinator at P.O. Box 5559, Poplarville, MS 39470 or 601-403-1060 or Maghan James, Assistant Vice President of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator at P.O. Box 5805, Poplarville, MS 39470 or 601-403-1132.
