Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative awards four scholarships to area seniors

Each year, Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative (HOEC) offers four $750 scholarships to area high schools. These high schools are rotated every year and are classified by their region. The applications are sent to a third-party judge to be reviewed and graded to ensure that any bias is eliminated and that the most qualified candidates are the recipients. This year, scholarships were awarded to one graduating senior at Alton, Bakersfield, Eminence and Willow Springs.

2023 graduates receiving the scholarship are Shelby Ledgerwood of Alton; Dally Wiesner of Bakersfield; Hayden Barrett of Eminence and Stacie Johnson of Willow Springs. Each student was presented with a certificate and letter explaining the scholarship is payable to the school and should be claimed by December 31, 2023, by contacting Member Services at HOEC. 

Ledgerwood plans to attend College of the Ozarks to purse a degree in pediatric nursing and eventually obtain a master’s degree in genetic counseling. She plans to stay in Missouri and help patients and parents find treatment and options.

Wiesner is attending Missouri State University in West Plains and then plans to transfer to College of the Ozarks to purse her degree in Agricultural Education.

Barrett has been working on his associate degree from Missouri State University during high school. From there he plans to transfer to a four-year college to complete his bachelor’s degree.  “My mother taught me the key to success is through education. My goal is to do my best and make her proud.

Johnson will attend MSU in West Plains to complete her associate degree. From there she plans to complete a master’s degree in elementary education. “I want to be the teacher that kids can look up to and feel loved by,” she said.

Congratulations to the students on receiving the scholarship. “This program aligns with our Cooperative Principles,” explained General Manager Dan Singletary. “Education, training and information and concern for community are two of the principles that fit these scholarships we extend to students,” he added. 

Scholarships will be awarded in 2024 to one senior each at Couch, Dora, West Plains and Winona High Schools. Applications will be available in early 2024 through the school counselors. 

Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative (HOEC), headquartered in West Plains, Missouri, delivers cost-efficient, reliable electricity to approximately 25,000 meters in south-central Missouri across six counties: Douglas, Ozark, Texas, Shannon, Howell and Oregon. That equates to 4,912 miles of line. More information about HOEC can be found at www.hoecoop.org.