Southern Rivers Energy (SRE) and the Southern Rivers Energy Trust Inc. are pleased to announce the awarding of $15,000 in scholarships to five exemplary students in our community. This year, the SRE Trust Scholarship program, supported by contributions from our Operation Round Up, received 30 outstanding applications from students across our nine-county service territory.
The scholarship recipients were selected based on their adherence to the core values upheld by Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, such as innovation, integrity, accountability, and community commitment. The blind evaluation process was meticulously carried out by a panel of former teachers, taking into account factors like academic performance, community involvement, school activities and recommendations.
The 2024 scholarship awardees are:
- Sara Jones, Pike County High School
- Jesse Juarez, Lamar County High School
- Jeremiah Norris, Spalding High School
- Elijah Pohl, Pohl Center of Lifelong Learning (Homeschool)
- Lizzie Stewart, Upson Lee High School
Each recipient has been awarded a scholarship of $3,000 to support their academic pursuits.
Beyond scholarships, the SRE Trust also supports community enrichment through the Bright Ideas teacher grant program and charitable grants to local civic groups and individuals in need. Since its inception in 2007, the Trust has contributed over $260,000 in scholarships.
Members of Southern Rivers Energy can participate in the Operation Round Up program simply by rounding up their monthly electric bill to the nearest dollar. This small contribution accumulates into significant community support, funding local scholarships, emergency assistance and teacher grants.
For more details on how you can support this impactful program, please visit southernriversenergy.com/operationroundup.