Southern Rivers Energy (SRE) and Southern Rivers Energy Trust Inc. will award $15,000 in scholarships to five local students. The trust received 28 qualified applications from across the nine-county service territory. The applications were judged blindly by former teachers.

Applicants were evaluated on the core values that Touchstone Energy Cooperatives like Southern Rivers Energy, incorporate in their business model: innovation, integrity, accountability and commitment to community. The scholarship committee reviewed grade-point average, community and school involvement, and letters of recommendation.

This year’s $3,000 scholarship recipients are Quinn Badgett of Concord from Pike County High School; Katie Bankston of Barnesville from Tattnall Square Academy; Matthew Godat of Griffin from Spalding High School; Mallory Hotchkiss of Macon from Academy for Classical Education; and Kadence Smith of Williamson from Pike County High School.

The SRE Trust Scholarship program is funded by SRE’s Operation Round Up program. In addition to scholarships, the SRE Trust funds the Bright Ideas teacher grant program and charitable grants for deserving community or civic groups and individuals. This is in addition to any grants that schools may receive from the parent Operation Round Up program. Since 2007, the SRE Trust has awarded $245,000 in scholarships to
local students.

By participating in the Operation Round Up program through the electric cooperative, SRE members can support local charitable groups, individuals in need, and provide emergency assistance, local scholarships and, teacher grants just by rounding up their monthly bill. Learn more at southernriversenergy.com/operationroundup.

WALTER HARRISON SCHOLARSHIP
In addition to the five Trust Scholarships, SRE is proud to announce Ryanna Whitehead of Lizella is a 2023 recipient of the Walter Harrison Scholarship awarded by electric cooperatives in Georgia. Seventy-seven students competed at a statewide level based on their academic achievements, extracurricular activities and their service to the community. Fifteen $1,000 scholarships were awarded this year to help offset the rising costs associated with obtaining a college degree.