Six local high school graduating seniors were awarded scholarships totaling $8,000. Scholarships were made available through Kankakee Valley REMC Operation Round Up Trust, a charitable program offered by the cooperative that provides grant opportunities to non-profits in the community. In addition, the organization awards scholarship once a year to area youth.
This year’s $2,000 scholarship recipients were Jonathan Stewart of Washington Township High School and Sidney Swanson of South Central High School. Receiving $1,000 scholarships were Hunter Vogel of Washington Township High School; Natalia Gebka of North Judson-San Pierre High School; Trenton Olling of South Central High School; and Bryce Maier of Crown Point High School. Scholarship recipients were selected based on their scholastic achievement, extra-curricular activities, and an essay response. The essay required the applicants to create a proposal for a neighborhood or community project. Within the proposal, the students were asked to create a budget for the proposed project.
“Kankakee Valley REMC Operation Round Up believes in the importance of investing in the next generation of leaders. Providing scholarships is just one way the cooperative can support area youth and encourage them to pursue continued education,” stated Amanda Steeb, director of marketing and communications for the cooperative. “We applaud the academic achievement of these deserving students and wish them luck as they continue their education this fall.”
Operation Round Up Trust is funded by Kankakee Valley REMC member-consumers voluntarily round up their electric bills each month. With an annual member-consumer contribution of $6.00 per year, the funds are distributed to not-for-profit organizations in the community. Since 2000, Operation Round Up Trust has awarded over one million dollars to not-for-profit community organizations.
