POPLARVILLE – A total of 115 Pearl River Community College students from throughout Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association’s 12-county service area are receiving scholarships of $935 to attend PRCC this year, thanks to the generous spirit and support of the Association’s member-consumers.
More than 200 students from throughout PRVEPA’s service area are receiving these scholarships to attend state community colleges.
This is the fourth year for the Round Up for Education scholar’s program, which is funded by members who round their bills up to the nearest dollar each month. Scholarships are available to members who do the round up, as well as for their spouses or dependent children who are enrolled as freshmen this fall.
“The efforts of the Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association to assist students from their service area in achieving a higher education is certainly paying great dividends for members of the Association,” said PRCC President William Lewis.
“Pearl River Community College has greatly benefited from the Association’s Round-Up Program with some 115 students attending the college this fall with scholarships made possible through this program. This effort is affording many students with opportunities that only a higher education can make possible. In turn, a more educated citizenry will enhance the economic and social well-being of our state. The positive benefits for the citizens of our region of Mississippi from this special program offered by Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association are immeasurable.”
PRVEPA serves more than 48,000 meters. Since the Round Up program began in November 2012, more than $840,000 has been collected and deposited in an account overseen by the Greater Pine Belt Community Foundation.
“Throughout our history, Pearl River Valley Electric has not only been providing electric service to rural areas, but working to improve the quality of life of our members and the communities where they live,” said General Manager Randy Wallace. “We believe that education is vital to improving the future for all of us in south Mississippi, and the Round Up program was designed to encourage more young people to further their education.
“Members working together to achieve a common goal is a unique hallmark of cooperative organizations, and I am proud of the positive response we’ve received on this effort. More than 90 percent of our members continue to round up their bills and we’re very thankful for their support.”
At least 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, resulting this year in 217 scholarships worth $935 per student (the maximum award per the program’s guidelines is $1000).
In the program’s four years, more than 780 students have now received scholarships.
“The PineBelt Community Foundation administers a variety of scholarship programs,” said Theresa Erickson, Executive Director of the Foundation. “The Round Up for Education Scholarship program is the largest scholarship program we manage. We often see how small contributions from large numbers of people can grow into significant amounts that benefit many individuals, and when people continue their education it not only benefits the individual, but it also benefits their family and ultimately their community.”
Round Up for Education funds collected after Aug. 1 go toward next year’s scholarships. Applications for 2017 scholarships will be available beginning this month.
Students getting these scholarships
Columbia Academy – Alexis Adams, Abbey English, John Holman, Lauren E. Lee, Alandra Patterson.
Columbia High School – Ben Baughman, James Brandon Belk, William John Boudreaux, Joseph Blake Broom, Katelynn Franklin, Jonathan Ryan Gibson, Joy Raquel Gibson, Cody B. King, Caleigh Lambert, Isaiah Rodriguez, Kaisha Yates.
East Marion High School – Devonta Alford, Mytchel Levi Bass, Brian Broom, Jermaine Lamont Burkett, Patience Diggs, D’Mia Graves, Asia L. Harvey, Kaitlin Patton, Ashlyn Pittman, Matthew K. Thigpen, Larry Watts.
Forrest County AHS – Juliann Aultman, Tyler Wayne Beall, Thomas Beasley, Langston Bunch, Alyssa Renee Calhoun, Bradley Cole Cameron, William T. Dubose, Robert Gmerek, Kaylin Hickman, Raegan Nicole Kearley, Brandon M. Kistler, Dusty Lane Lawler, Dustin Lofton, Katie Sellers.
Home School – Dallis Scruggs, Tyler Steven Taylor.
Lamar Christian – Madison Breanne Williford.
Lumberton – Austin Wade Coker.
Mandeville, La. – Nicole Creel.
Oak Grove High School – Noah Albert, Courtney E. Alford, Frandrika Shavon Amos, Alysha Arrington, Tyler Fiveash, Dylan Forbes, Katie Ford, Shelby Herndon, Claire Jennings, Ivory Lowe, Parker Mathis, Taylor McCarter, Justin Devon Richards, Danielle Smith, Vera E. Thacker, Kaila L. Williams.
Pearl River, La. – Shelby Hanna.
Petal – Skyler S. Quick.
Purvis High School – Kamry Bond, Selena Broom, Clifton Blake Brown, Jacob Burkhalter, Shaina Kamri Burroughs, Naomi Burroughs, Riley Davis, Taylor M. Friend, Sydney Hester, Ethan P. Jackson, Cameron Johnson, Breanna Johnson, Bryce Kelley, Logan Lovdahl, Stacy Lucas, Patrick Mills, Richard “Dale” Moore, Lacy “Savannah” Moree, Amanda Rich, Wesley E. Seay, Matthew Ryan Singletary, Wyatt Jakob Smith, Jessie Marie Whiteman.
Stone High School – Ashlyn Johnson, Carlie Smith.
St. Patrick – Ethan Tyler Parsons.
Sumrall High School – Hunter Thomas Askew, Garrett R. Aultman, Hailee Berry, Amanda “Jade” Breeland, Timothy Hicks, Zachary P. Hicks, Samuel Evan Hudson, Hanna Presley Lofton, Cammie Moree, Kopen Nightengale, Nathan Forrest Young.
West Marion High School – Caleb Batie, Dakota Behsman, Zachary Clark, Cole Cox, Alex Little, Kendall Mullins, Jerald D. Peak, Marquia Pigott, Kailey Alexis Pittman, Adrianna Seymour, Abby Sumrall, Caitlyn A. Thornhill, Treves Trahan, Colby White. 
Pearl River Community College students William Tyler Dubose of Forrest County and Parker Mathis of Oak Grove hold the ceremonial check from Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association for the scholarships they and 113 other PRCC students received. Directly behind them are PRCC President Dr. William Lewis, association manager Randy Wallace, Patty Munn, board member with the Greater Pinebelt Community Foundation which administers the funds, and Kurt Brautigam, the association’s member services manager.
PRCC Public Relations photo
Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association provided scholarships to 115 Pearl River Community College students this year through the association’s Round Up for Education program. PRCC President Dr. William Lewis, left, accepted the ceremonial check Thursday, Nov. 3, from association manager Randy Wallace, Patty Munn, board member with the Greater Pinebelt Community Foundation which administers the funds, and Kurt Brautigam, the association’s member services manager.
PRCC Public Relations photo
