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SECO Energy Congratulates 2019 Scholarship Awardees

SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative operating for the benefit of its members. As a member-focused cooperative, SECO is committed to delivering reliable, safe, affordable power and focuses on community support.

 

SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees first approved the scholarship program for local students in 1996. In the twenty years since inception, SECO’s scholarship program has awarded almost $600,000 in scholarship funds to 293 young scholars residing in SECO’s service area.

 

This year’s SECO scholarship recipients are a class of bright, ambitious, hard-working students who are concentrated on achieving their goals. SECO’s 2019 Scholarship Program awardees are:

 

Erica F. Adkins, Inverness, Lecanto High School
Jessica L. Chin-Shue, Webster, South Sumter High School
Joseph O. Foran, Lady Lake, The Villages Charter High School
Brittany Forbes, Summerfield, Belleview High School
Sydney M. Howard, Groveland, Leesburg High School
Emily Kennedy, Clermont, South Lake High School
Alexandra M. Lussier, Belleview, The Villages Charter High School
Jenna Mishefske, Ocala, West Port High School
Nisha D. Patel, Ocala, Vanguard High School
Alexis J. Stires, Inverness, Lecanto High School
Rachel Williams, Sorrento, Eustis High School

 

President and District 9 Trustee Jerry Hatfield is looking forward to meeting this year’s scholarship recipients. Hatfield stated, “As a former Lake County educator, I know first-hand our local schools are filled with students who desire an education beyond high school. This desire is sometimes hampered by limited financial resources. SECO’s Scholarship Program offers students monetary assistance to help them achieve their goals of a further education and a future career.”

 

CEO Jim Duncan believes the SECO Scholarship Program could be a first step to a successful career path, possibly with SECO. Duncan stated, “A career path with SECO Energy may be a good fit for some of our scholarship recipients. SECO is centrally located near the students’ hometowns and within an hour’s drive to several metropolitan areas in Central Florida. We hire a host of high-skilled employees, and offer a robust benefits package with medical, dental, and vision coverage along with competitive compensation. Additional benefits that may be particularly interesting to younger potential employees is our generous paid-time-off policy and student loan repayment assistance program.”

 

Duncan continued, “The energy industry is growing and with that growth are new technologies and new career opportunities. SECO is a growing cooperative that needs highly skilled employees to keep up with the latest industry trends and available technology.”

 

SECO will host a celebratory event for the 2019 scholarship recipients and their families at its headquarters on May 20, 2019.

 

Learn more about SECO Energy and its community participation on our Community page. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Energy Congratulates 2018 Scholarship Awardees

May 1, 2018 – SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative operating for the benefit of its members. As a member-focused cooperative, SECO is committed to delivering reliable, safe, affordable power to its members and focuses on community enrichment.

 

SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees first approved the scholarship program for local students in 1996. In the twenty years since inception, SECO’s scholarship program has awarded almost $600,000 in scholarship monies to 281 young scholars residing in SECO’s service area.

 

This year’s SECO scholarship recipients are a class of bright, ambitious, hard-working students who are concentrated on achieving their goals. SECO’s 2018 Scholarship Program awardees are:

 

Jahmani Walter Beckford, Groveland, is graduating from Real Life Christian Academy.
Eunice Garcia Ceballos, Ocala, is graduating from Belleview High School.
Chelsea Chapa, Eustis, is graduating from Mount Dora High School.
Kaylie Rae Fields, Umatilla, is graduating from Umatilla High School.
Jasmine Renee Gee, Ocala, is graduating from West Port High School.
Odalis Lora, Astatula, is graduating from Tavares High School.
Moriah Martin, Bushnell, is graduating from South Sumter High School.
Luz Elena Mata, Summerfield, is graduating Belleview High School.
Corinne Ross, Tavares, is graduating from Tavares High School.
Ashlyn Paige Saunders, Ocklawaha, is graduating from Belleview High School.
Stephen Ngozi Unamaka, Clermont, is graduating from East Ridge High School.
Katelin Vaughn, Belleview, is graduating from Belleview High School.

 

President and District 9 Trustee Jerry Hatfield is looking forward to meeting this year’s scholarship recipients. Hatfield stated, “As a former Lake County educator, I know first-hand our local schools are filled with students who desire an education beyond high school. This desire is sometimes hampered by limited financial resources. SECO’s Scholarship Program offers students monetary assistance to help them achieve their goals of a further education and a future career.”

 

CEO Jim Duncan believes the SECO Scholarship Program could be a first step to a successful career path, possibly with SECO. Duncan stated, “A career path with SECO Energy may be a good fit for some of our scholarship recipients. SECO is centrally located near their hometowns and several metropolitan areas in Central Florida. We hire a host of high-skilled, high-wage positions that include a robust benefits package with generous paid-time-off, medical coverage, dental and vision coverage. An additional benefit that may be particularly interesting to younger potential employees is our student loan repayment assistance program.”

 

Duncan continued, “The energy industry is growing and with that growth are new technologies and new career opportunities. SECO is a growing cooperative that needs highly skilled employees to keep up with the latest industry trends and available technology.”

 

SECO will host a celebratory event for the 2018 scholarship recipients and their families at its headquarters on May 21, 2018.

 

Learn more about SECO Energy and its community participation online. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Buys Marion County Students’ Swine and Steer

Last week, Kathy Judkins, SECO Energy’s Deputy Director for Civic, Charitable and Government Affairs, purchased one steer and three swine at the Marion County Southeastern Youth Fair at the Ocala Live Stock Pavilion.

 

Each year, hundreds of students glean from the exposure they’ve received from participating in the youth fair. They learn how to care for their animals which is very evident when they step into the auction’s area seeking the highest bid from buyers. Besides seeking the highest bid, the students gain something greater – work ethic, finance and business management skills.

 

As a buyer representing SECO, Judkins purchased a steer from Riley Thoresen, a junior at Belleview High School, who showed a steer for Wild n’ Country 4-H Club that weighed in at 937 pounds. Riley plans to use her profits from the sale to continue saving for college where she hopes to become a behavioral analyst.

 

Later in the week, Judkins purchased two pigs from Dunnellon High School Future Farmers of America (FFA). Christen Adams’ pig weighed 252 pounds and Barry Duncan’s pig weighed 225 pounds. A third pig was purchased from Cassidy Clarke, a SECO member and a senior at Belleview High School, who showed a 236-pound pig for the Wild n’ Country 4-H Club. Fighting back tears, Clarke stated, “I’ve been showing pigs for twelve consecutive years, and I’m going to miss it. This year’s swine auction will help me with my college funding. My love for animals will continue because I’ve been accepted into Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College in Tifton Georgia where I plan to major in Pre-Professional Biology and then transfer to a Veterinary Science Program.”

 

Judkins stated, “The youth fair gives students an introduction to agriculture and animals that they may never receive otherwise. For decades, SECO continues to be a proud supporter of the students in rural agriculture programs. From an educational standpoint, these students are learning valuable skills that will prepare them for remarkable careers.”

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “SECO’s participation in youth livestock programs in the counties we serve also helps the cooperative identify and encourage students whose homes are served by SECO to apply for the scholarship program. This year, SECO will award twelve $3,000 scholarships to high school seniors enrolling in a Florida institute of higher learning. Academic achievement, financial need and other factors are considered by the judges, but participation in 4-H or FFA gives students added points. I encourage these students to visit our website and apply today because the submission deadline is March 30.”

 

Visit our Community page to learn more about SECO’s community outreach programs. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Celebrates 2017 Scholarship Awardees

SECO Energy celebrated its 2017 SECO Scholarship program with a reception for the scholarship awardees and their families at its headquarters in Sumterville Monday evening. Twelve graduating high school seniors, who live in a home served by SECO, were awarded for their scholarly pursuits with a $3,000 scholarship to the university of their choice. All of the students have plans to attend a university in The Sunshine State.

 

SECO is proud to introduce its 2017 class of scholarship awardees who hail from Citrus, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties:

 

  •   Karla Michell DeAnda – North Marion High School – Marion County
  •   Amy Michele Folker – The Villages Charter High School – Sumter County
  •   Jordan Gangi – Lecanto High School – Citrus County
  •   Macey Marie Graham – Umatilla High School – Lake County
  •   Garret Thomas Heussner – Belleview High School – Marion County
  •   Summer Noel Hotz – Real Life Christian Academy – Lake County
  •   Daniel McNair – North Marion High School – Marion County
  •   Joaquin Isaiah Negron – The Villages Charter High School – Sumter County
  •   Sarah Rose O’Neill – Tavares High School – Lake County
  •   Hannah Lea Pendleton – Citrus High School – Citrus County
  •   Robert Reed – Dunnellon High School – Marion County
  •   Mikkala Shea Supancic – West Port High School – Marion County

 

SECO Celebrates 2017 Scholarship Awardees group picture

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is guided by the seven cooperative principles. Its scholarship program encompasses two of these principles – Concern for Community and Education, Training and Information. Providing financial support to local, young scholars beginning their education, prepares them as future potential SECO employees and community leaders.

 

Ray Vick, SECO’s Board of Trustees President stated, “I am very impressed with SECO’s 2017 scholarship awardees achievements. These young men and women are bright, ambitious and a credit to their communities. On behalf of myself and the Board, I wish them the very best as they begin fulfilling their dreams.”

 

Jim Duncan, CEO agrees, “SECO’s 2017 scholarship group is impressive. I hope some of the latest crop of scholarship awardees contact SECO after graduation or during their summer break for employment and internship opportunities. This summer, one of our 2016 scholarship winners, Megan Elliott, is returning to her hometown and interning in SECO’s Operations department. SECO is a centrally located, regional utility that offers high-paying careers along with an exceptional benefits package.”

 

Learn more about SECO’s scholarship program and additional community outreach programs. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

$36,000 Awarded to Scholarship Recipients

Jim Duncan, CEO of SECO Energy, is congratulating the 12 graduating seniors from SECO’s service territory who have each been awarded a $3,000 scholarship.

 

SECO’s Board of Trustees first approved the scholarship program in 1996. In the 20 years since SECO began awarding the scholarships, it has pledged over $500,000 to 257 deserving high school seniors that live in the communities it serves.

 

“As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, Concern for Community is one of the seven cooperative principles that is near and dear to all of us here at SECO. I am thankful that our Board of Trustees has approved the continuance of the scholarship program for 20 years. As a business leader, it is exciting to meet future leaders first-hand as they begin to achieve their goals for their future,” said Duncan.

 

SECO Energy Scholarship, $36,000 Awarded to Scholarship Recipients

 

SECO’s Board of Trustees President Ray Vick looks forward to meeting the 2016 scholarship awardees. “As the Board President, I am proud that SECO continues to enable young people in the community to begin their career path by assisting in their education expenses. SECO has a number of technology focused careers available and I hope to have the opportunity to work with some of our scholarship awardees in the future.”

 

The applicants were evaluated based on their scholastic achievements, school and community service activities, and financial need. The 12 SECO scholarship awardees for 2016 are:

 

SECO Scholars

  • Merari Flores Saldana from Ocala – West Port High School
  • Megan M. Elliott from Tavares – Tavares High School
  • Citlali Barragan-Hernandez from Summerfield — Belleview High School
  • James C. Cato from Summerfield — Lake Weir High School
  • Cayley L. Buckner from Silver Springs – West Port High School
  • Melissa L. Moreno from Ocala – West Port High School
  • Shelby C. Smith from Webster – South Sumter High School
  • Ana J. Mata from Summerfield — Belleview High School
  • Elijah T. Hughes from Bushnell – South Sumter High School
  • Karla G. Carvajal from Wildwood – Wildwood Middle-High School
  • Raul A. Bayas from Ocala – Vanguard High School
  • Richanda M. Pierre from Ocala – West Port High School

The applicants were judged by SECO Energy’s Scholarship Committee of independent educators. The Committee chose 12 outstanding seniors based on the application materials each student submitted. Scholarship awardees and their families will be honored at a special reception at SECO Energy’s headquarters building in Sumterville on Monday, May 23, at 4:00 p.m.