High school seniors whose parents or guardians are customer-members of Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative and whose primary residence is served by the cooperative, are eligible to apply for 2010 college or technical school scholarships to be awarded by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC) Educational Scholarship Foundation.
Scholarship recipients will be chosen based on three major criteria: financial need (40%), academic achievement (40%) and school and community involvement (20%). Applicants must provide evidence of acceptance in a post-high school educational institution or program. Scholarship funds will be sent directly to the educational institution the recipient will attend and placed in the student’s account. Funds can be used to pay for tuition, fees and books.
Applications for 2010 scholarships are available online now at www.vmdaec.com, www.co-opliving.com/community/scholarship, and at SMECO’s website, www.smeco.coop/scholarship. Applications are also available by mail by writing to: VMDAEC Scholarships, P.O. Box 2340, Glen Allen, Va. 23059. The deadline is April 1, 2010.
In 2009, the VMDAEC Educational Foundation awarded 48 scholarships totaling $43,500 to deserving students throughout Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Since its inception in 2000, 262 students have received VMDAEC scholarships totaling $171,500. The Foundation is funded through tax-deductible donations from individuals and VMDAEC member electric cooperatives and also from the proceeds of events such as the annual Gaff ’n’ Go Lineman’s Rodeo and Golf Tournament. The number of scholarships awarded each year is based on the funds available.
Founded in 1944, VMDAEC is the trade association for SMECO and the 15 other electric cooperatives serving the Mid-Atlantic region. The VMDAEC is based in Glen Allen, Va. and provides safety and employee training, governmental relations services, and communications services to its member co-ops. For more information, visit www.vmdaec.com .