At their December 2019 meeting the SCEC Board of Directors approved an updated Student Scholarship Programs Policy 1011 that demonstrates the Cooperative Principles and carries out the mission of the co-op by administering a more inclusive scholarship program.

The cooperative principles most often cited when speaking of scholarship programs are arguably #5: Education, Training and Information and #7: Concern for Community. In expanding the SCEC scholarship program, the Board also took into consideration the first three principles: Voluntary and Open Membership (no discrimination), Democratic Member Control (one member, one vote) and Members’ Economic Participation (members contribute equitably).

Scholarships are funded by forfeited capital credits put into an account held in trust by Federated Youth Foundation and have no effect on members’ bills.

SCEC scholarships in the past were offered exclusively to high school seniors who were dependents of co-op members.
In 2019, 18 area high school students received a total of $18,000 in scholarships through SCEC. In 2020, 24 area high school students and three older college students received a total of $21,500 in scholarships through SCEC.

Legacy scholarships renamed Co-op Principles Scholarships: Similar to our legacy 2- and 4-year Continuing Education scholarships, selection is based on criteria related to Cooperative Principles, leadership qualities and academic performance. Three of these scholarships were awarded in 2020: Erika Emerson, Laura Dawn Lane and Brianna Mikla.

New this year - Lineworker Scholarships: In most cases, there are waiting lists for Electrical Power Distribution courses, and students rarely begin the program straight out of high school. Of this year’s three Lineworker Scholarship recipients, one - Collin Burns - is currently in an EPD program and the other two are high school seniors: Zachary Nilssen will begin at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in June and Brent Paulson Jr. is on the waiting list for the course at Chippewa Valley Technical College. 

New this year - District Draw Scholarships: With less extensive application requirements, recipients were drawn randomly by each of the nine SCEC Directors at their March meeting. This year, each District had two $500 scholarships available.

Along with these scholarships, also awarded were a Non-Traditional Scholarship and an internship. 

SCEC also administers the Willink Cooperative Leadership Scholarship, funded by the Wayne Willink family and awarded each year to a qualifying high school senior majoring in an agriculture-related field. This year's recipient is Madison Peterson.

Biographies of the students can be found by clicking on the links above or in the center spread of the May 2020 issue of Energy Lifestyles Magazine.