Investing in our future

Daryl Jones, Manager of Black Warrior EMC

Instead of writing another update on our material shortages, long lead times, rising costs of wholesale power or multiple rounds of storms, I decided to find something positive. Well, it didn’t take long because our editor was compiling pictures and descriptions from our 2023 scholarship awards.

Education, training and information are one of the seven cooperative principles. Black Warrior EMC began funding five $500 scholarships years ago, then soon realized we needed more. Taking into consideration the large area we serve our Board doubled the number to ten. This action created more opportunities for the graduating seniors in the 24 high schools we send information to in our service area each year. The applicant’s only requirement is they must be a dependent of a member of our cooperative when the application is made, through graduation.

Black Warrior wants to continue supporting the career aspirations of its young people, and the co-op is putting time and money behind that effort. Alabama’s rural electric co-ops offer scholarships each year to deserving high school seniors through the Electric Cooperative Foundation, which evaluates the applications and awards scholarships to vocational and trade schools and four-year colleges/universities. The ECF awarded its first scholarship in 2001. Since that first year, ECF has awarded over 1,255 scholarships totaling over $1,318,250. ECF has received more than 16,840 applications, and each one is read and evaluated by a selection committee. To qualify, the student must be a graduating high school senior who is the dependent of a cooperative member. The money is awarded directly to the school of the student’s choosing. The ECF will award ten scholarships of $500 each, with one being designated for a student attending a vocational school. The award is good for four years and can be used for anything that can be purchased through the school–tuition, books, room and board, etc. Over the years, the ECF has sent scholarship money to 72 diverse institutions across the U.S.

Black Warrior EMC’s Board members, along with myself and other staff, thoroughly enjoy going out into our communities and schools delivering the awards to these well-deserving seniors. It’s not so much the money, but the investment we try to make with the children in hopes one day they will return and maybe become a member of Black Warrior EMC.