2023 Electric Cooperative Foundation Scholarship Recipients

Marshall DeKalb Electric Cooperative (MDEC) strives to live by the 7 principles that govern all cooperatives. Two of the seven are featured in this article.

Concern for the Community

MDEC is passionate about serving its members and making an impact in the community. We volunteer for local charities and participate in events to support those in need to help make a difference. We are heavily involved with schools that are in our service area and we hope to inspire students to be successful through awarding scholarships.

Financial Education, Training, and Information

MDEC is committed to providing safe electrical practices to their members and to the community at large. From electrical presentations to energy efficiency information, we do all we can to ensure that the general public, schools and policy makers are informed.

MDEC along with the Electric Cooperative Foundation awards a $1,000 scholarship to every school we serve and one $1,000 scholarship to a school at large. We are proud to present this year’s recipients.

Juleydi Franco-Ramos

Juleydi is a graduate of Crossville High School. She has a GPA of 4.4 and is planning on attending the University of Alabama to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering. “I am impressed with Juleydi’s dedication to fostering her academic development and her leadership skills. Her hard work led her to an award-winning high school career, strong test scores, and an outstanding grade point average,” stated Marcus A Cotton, director of Diversity in Business Bridge Program at Culver College of Business at UA.

Leslye Rios Jarquin

Leslye is a graduate of Douglas High School. She has a GPA of 3.7 and is planning on attending the University of Alabama to pursue a degree in Pre-Med. “Leslye works hard to better herself in all she does. She is very active in community service projects and has improved her leadership skills in her clubs. Leslye is a well-rounded student who will be a top performer in school,” stated Lisa Amburn, DHS Math Department chair.

Steven Hunter Smith

Steven is a graduate of Asbury High School. He has a GPA of 4.0 and is planning on attending the Northeast Alabama Community College to pursue a degree in criminal justice. “Hunter is an excellent student with above average grades. He is known as a student leader by the administration, faculty, and staff. He has an outstanding personality and is an excellent role model,” stated Laura Sharp, AHS library media specialist.

Cade Rylan Whorton

Cade is a graduate of Boaz High School. He has a GPA of 4.2 and is planning on attending the Snead State Community College and transferring to UAH to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering. “Cade is in the top 15 of his graduating class while taking AP classes. I found Cade to be well disciplined, self motivated, and always determined about school and any extra-curricular activity he is involved in,” stated Adam Kennum, BHS business teacher and head baseball coach.

Jonah Chace Williams

Jonah is a graduate of Plainview High School. He has a GPA of 4.3 and is planning on attending the University of Alabama-Huntsville to pursue a degree in accounting and finance. “Jonah is very well-rounded student and one of the best to ever walk the halls at Plainview School. He is academically driven as well as gifted athletically,” stated Marilyn Bryant, Ed.S., PHS assistant principal and AP coordinator.

Zane Allen Williams

Zane is a graduate of Geraldine High School. He has a GPA of 3.7 and is planning on attending Snead State Community College to pursue a degree in education. “Zane is a leader in every sense of the word. He is ranked in the top of the senior class academically. Zane has challenged himself by taking AP courses and has performed extremely well in them,” stated Pam Tidmore, GHS English teacher.