MEA offers scholarships to member students

MAT-SU — Applications are now available for Matanuska Electric Association’s 2015 scholarships to serve area students.

The MEA Scholarship was created to encourage members and their dependents who are first-time college students, returning students, students participating in a vocational program, or students pursuing professional development that leads to a degree or certification.

A scholarship committee made up of MEA members from various professions and communities reviews and selects scholarship recipients based on their applications, which require students to provide the following:

• Transcripts from high school and/or college, trade or vocational technical school

• A “personal data narrative,” not to exceed two double‐spaced pages, that includes a description of personal history, career goals, and plans to contribute to the betterment of the community upon completion of education

• A list of all employment, internship(s), community service, and extracurricular activities the applicant has experienced in the last four years

• Three letters of reference, one from each category — academic/school, work/volunteer, personal/character

• A financial plan statement

Special scholarships are set-aside for a vocational student and a non-traditional student, as well as the “Duste Bonin Scholarship” for a student who has excelled in public service.

Volunteers read and score the applications, select the finalists, conduct group interviews of 10 to 20 finalists, and determine dollar amounts for each award. Up to $20,000, in increments from $100 to $2,000, will be awarded to the winners.

Funding for the program comes from unclaimed capital credits. In 2014, Matanuska Electric Association awarded approximately $20,000 in scholarships.

Applications are available online or in MEA offices and school counselors’ offices. Completed applications and letters of references must be postmarked by March 20 to be considered. The committee will interview finalists in April and the winners will be announced at MEA’s Annual Membership Meeting on April 28.

For more information, visit mea.coop.