SECO Energy Celebrates 2026 Scholarship Awardees

Company News

The future is bright for SECO Energy’s 2026 scholarship awardees. SECO’s Board of Trustees approved $48,000 in scholarships to high school seniors graduating this year who reside in homes served by SECO. These 12 outstanding local students exemplify academic excellence and leadership within their communities.    

 

On Monday, April 20th, the SECO Youth Programs Committee hosted a special recognition event to honor this year’s 12 Youth Scholarship awardees. Each student was awarded a $4,000 scholarship to support their educational journey.  

 

SECO Energy’s 2026 Scholarship Awardees are:   

Yousra Abumouilish – Wildwood Middle High School 

Lillian Brogan – South Sumter High School 

Emerie Dotson – Tavares High School 

Lillian Keller – Lake Minneola High School 

Kaiming Lei – The Villages Charter High School 

Jayley Lewis – South Sumter High School 

Hector Martinez-Johnson – Trinity Catholic High School 

Dustin Nhieu – The Villages Charter High School 

Ave Patteson – Mount Dora High School 

Gabriella Smith – West Port High School 

Danielle Williams – South Sumter High School 

Artur Zancope – Windermere High School  

 

SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees President and District 3 Trustee Gerald Anderson congratulated the 2026 Youth Scholarship awardees. President Anderson stated, “Congratulations to this year’s exceptional student awardees and their families that have supported their education goals. SECO and other electric cooperatives are constantly seeking new talent, and I believe we can find that right here in our hometowns. SECO and the energy industry as a whole need young, driven talent as we embrace emerging new technologies and navigate new industry challenges.”  

 

SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn shared similar sentiments. Wynn said, “As I reviewed the scholarship awardees selected by the Youth Programs Committee, I was inspired by the accomplishments, chosen fields of study, and the accolades earned by these young men and women in our communities. Congratulations, students, you are on the path of success because of your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence. I encourage these students to consider bringing their talents, skills, and abilities to SECO Energy when the time comes to begin their careers.” 

 

When speaking on the impact that the SECO Energy Youth Scholarship had on her and her educational journey, current Mount Dora High School senior and future Florida State University student, Ave Patteson said, “I hope to double major in business management and political science so that I can attend law school to become a prosecutor. I really want to take a moment to thank the SECO Energy staff involved in the scholarship program, I am very grateful for the generosity of SECO, and this wonderful award has been a much-needed miracle for me and my family.”