In late 2020, four students were selected to represent Pioneer Electric on all-expenses-paid trips to Washington, D.C., and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Due to concerns with the pandemic, Kansas Electric Cooperative’s (KEC) board of directors decided to cancel both programs for summer 2021. Instead, Pioneer Electric will offer a $1,000 scholarship to each winner.
Judges selected Ulysses High School students Becca Rock and Bryan Peña to represent the cooperative in Washington, D.C. Emily Nunez, Ulysses High School, and Hannah Evans, Elkhart High School, were chosen to represent Pioneer Electric in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The four students were finalists out of a pool of 12 candidates from schools in Pioneer Electric’s service territory, after completing an online application and interview.
“We know that our students were looking forward to this trip, but the health and safety of our students, and their families, is our priority,” said Rae Gorman, manager of energy services. “Pioneer Electric understands that we can’t replace the experiences these trips would have provided. We hope these students will be able to use these scholarships to help them achieve their goals beyond high school.”
Students selected for the 2021 trips will have the opportunity to apply for the 2022 program, provided they meet the program’s requirements. Any students who age out of the program will be eligible to apply for Pioneer Electric’s general scholarship their senior year of high school.
Questions regarding the cancellation of the 2021 trips may be directed to Pioneer Electric at 620-356-1211.
