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Thirty-one graduating high school seniors in the Southside Electric Cooperative (SEC) service area are receiving Southside Opportunity Fund scholarships to help with the costs of higher education.

In late April, the SOF board selected 31 recipients to receive $37,000 in scholarships after reviewing applications from 44 students. The recipients, who represent 10 of the 18 counties served by SEC, received scholarships of either $2,000 or $1,000.

Since the scholarship program started in 2016, 202 grants totaling $236,000 have been awarded. Receiving $2,000 scholarships are Ta’Myra Redd and Rebekah Sanderson, Randolph-Henry High School; Brandon Thompson, Gretna High School; Quin’niah Woodford, Prince Edward County High School; and Sara Deines and Tomia Creighton, Dinwiddie High School.

Receiving $1,000 scholarships are Keith Hamilton Jr., Appomattox County High School; Rhettia Rose, Jenny Jaynes, Octavia Wade, Lynden Hottle, Kaelyn Trent and Donovan Blanton, Randolph-Henry High School; Sarah Dinwiddie, Rustburg High School; Katelyn Scott, William Campbell Combined School; Micah Canning, Seneca School; Dava Turner and Daniel Shell, Central High School; Hannah Greene, Joseph Foster and Timothy Foster, Nottoway High School; Isabelle Halliday, Prince Edward County High School; Jacob Lee and Lindsey Braziel, Matoaca High School; Tristan Penny and Daveyon Royal, Amelia County High School; Kaitlyn Williams, Drake Schnepf and Ryan Clay, Dinwiddie High School; Logan Moon, Kenston Forest School; and Alexandria Rhodes, Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology.

HOW ARE SCHOLARSHIPS CHOSEN?

Scholarships are awarded through a competitive process based on financial need, academic achievement and a personal statement. Students’ parents or guardians must be SEC members.

In addition to the scholarships, the SOF board annually contributes to educating future lineworkers attending Southside Virginia Community College’s Power Line Worker Training School in Blackstone. The SOF board approved $5,000 this year.

Southside Opportunity Fund scholarships are supported by donations and proceeds from a golf tournament and skeet shoot. Information about 2025 scholarships will be available early next year at sec.coop/southside-opportunity-fund and from high school counselors.