Log in | Register |
StormCenter logo

Archive

Tag: Dunnellon High School

SECO Energy Congratulates 2020 Scholarship Awardees

SECO Energy is proud to congratulate its 2020 Scholarship Awardees. Each of the 12 SECO Scholarship awardees receives $3,000 in scholarship money to advance his or her education. Over the last two decades, the SECO Scholarship program has awarded over $500,000 in scholarships to more than 300 local students.

 

Awardees were required to meet eligibility criteria to qualify; however, due to COVID-19 school closures, the deadline was extended 30 days and a counselor’s signature requirement was waived. Scholars must be a high school Senior who is graduating in the current school year and lives in a home served by SECO Energy. New this year, awardees must be interested in pursuing a career in the energy field. He or she must also be seeking a degree or certification in technology, engineering, math or business and enrolled full-time in an accredited Florida college, university or trade school by the end of 2020. The 2020 SECO Energy Scholarship awardees are:

 

Tylin N. Barnard:
West Port High School. Lives in Ocala. Plans to study Chemical Engineering.

 

Cheyenne Diaz:
Vanguard High School. Lives in Ocala. Plans to study Manufacturing Processes/Mechanical Engineering.

 

Isabella Hernandez:
East Ridge High School. Lives in Clermont. Plans to study Engineering.

 

Janiya Houston:
West Port High School. Lives in Ocala. Plans to study Quality Engineering.

 

Joseph A. LaCourse:
The Villages Charter High School. Lives in Oxford. Plans to study Engineering.

 

Cameron MacLean:
Tavares High School. Lives in Tavares. Plans to study Electrical Engineering.

 

Lucas Marden:
Tavares High School. Lives in Tavares. Plans to study Aerospace Engineering.

 

Stuart T. Palmer:
Umatilla High School. Lives in Umatilla. Plans to study Electrical Engineering.

 

Alayna Phillips:
The Villages Charter High School. Lives in Wildwood. Plans to study Business.

 

Miguel Santos:
West Port High School. Lives in Ocala. Plans to study Business/Marketing.

 

William J. Simmons:
Dunnellon High School. Lives in Dunnellon. Plans to study Electrical Distribution Technology.

 

Alexander Q. Williams:
Eustis High School. Lives in Sorrento. Plans to study Biomedical Engineering.

 

Vice President of Corporate Services and Human Resources Gregg Morrell has high hopes for SECO’s 2020 Scholarship Awardees. Morrell stated, “The 2020 SECO Scholarship awardees are an impressive group of young scholars who should be applauded for their efforts. Students with their abilities and career aspirations are what we are looking for in our future employees. Based on the students’ field of study and career goals, he or she may be eligible to apply for continuing financial support from SECO and a future opportunity to apply for a paid internship which could lead to full-time employment with SECO after graduation.”

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “Congratulations to all of our 2020 SECO Scholarship awardees. You and your families should be very proud of your accomplishments thus far. I hope that our awardees will consider SECO Energy for an internship opportunity or as a future employer when making your career plans. The energy industry is actively searching for bright, young people to fill crucial positions in order to supply American homes and businesses with the electricity they need to live and work.”

 

Duncan continued, “SECO Energy offers competitive compensation, a generous benefits package that includes major medical, vision and dental insurance. Another benefit that is attractive to individuals freshly out of college is our student loan repayment assistance program. SECO is a local company that is nationally recognized as a customer satisfaction leader in the energy industry.”

 

Looking for employment right now? Visit our job board on our Careers page. “Like” SECO on Facebook and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Energy and Dunnellon High School Partner for Energy Careers

SECO Energy and Dunnellon High School in Marion County are working together as Power Partners to develop local students’ interests in energy careers.

 

Dunnellon High School’s Power Generation Academy helps prepare students for the thousands of high-skilled, high-tech, in-demand jobs in the power and energy industry. Upon program completion, students will receive a National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) certification in Power Generation Maintenance as an Industrial Maintenance Technician.

 

To celebrate this Power Partnership, SECO Energy’s Kenny Rodrigue, Manager of Substation and Transmission, and Rina Rivera, Senior Human Resources Generalist, delivered SECO sponsored Power Partner t-shirts, gloves, safety glasses and scrap aluminum for welding. Rodrigue spoke with the students about the utility industry and careers at SECO. Rodrigue and Rivera also discussed the education path required to best prepare students for the energy industry, along with technical knowledge and skills needed for future employment.

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO believes supporting students and schools in local communities is a worthwhile investment. Annually SECO awards $36,000 in scholarships to 12 graduating seniors who live in a home served by the cooperative. In Citrus, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties, SECO recently contributed $15,500 to the counties’ public education foundations benefitting students and teachers.

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “Our partnership with Dunnellon High School’s Power Generation Academy is an exciting opportunity for local students and SECO. The students enrolled in the program are introduced to careers in the utility industry and local utility leadership. For SECO, we lend a hand in cultivating the future work force and possibly offer future employment or internship opportunities at SECO.”

 

Duncan added, “Our local utility offers a variety of career opportunities for students who want to work in a stable environment with competitive compensation while remaining close to family and friends.”

 

Applications for SECO’s 2019 Scholarship Program will be available starting January 2, 2019. Find program criteria and a printable application online on our Scholarship page. Applications are also available through school guidance counselors.

 

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

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.

SECO Sponsors Youth Fair Participants

On Tuesday, February 21, Kathy Judkins, SECO Energy’s Deputy Director of Civic, Charitable and Government Affairs, attended the Marion County Southeastern Youth Fair at the Ocala Livestock Pavilion to continue SECO’s support of young people in rural agriculture activities. SECO has supported Youth Fairs in its service territory for decades.

 

Hundreds of students involved in local school chapters of 4-H or Future Farmers of America (FFA) participate in the fair each year. By showing and selling a steer at the Fair, students learn responsibility, marketing, communication and record keeping. Students are responsible for the animal’s feed, health and well-being and maintain the health records for their animal. Participants strengthen their communication and marketing skills by writing letters requesting sponsorship and generating interest in a final sale for their animal.

 

The Marion County Southeastern Youth Fair is the largest Youth Fair event in Florida. The foundation of the Fair began in 1941 with the Steer Show and the current Youth Fair format began in 1978. Hundreds of volunteers contribute thousands of hours to make the Youth Fair a success in Marion County.

 

As SECO’s representative, Judkins purchased a 1,004 pound steer from Dunnellon High School’s Tyler Matthew. Tyler is active in his school’s FFA Chapter, which includes 50 students under the guidance of teacher Austin Skipper. A senior this year, Tyler plans on attending college in the fall and will use his proceeds from the sale to assist in financing his education.

 

Judkins stated, “We live in a fast-paced world. In the age of social media and an infinite number of other distractions, it is a delight to see kids participating in farming events. FFA and 4-H gives kids a chance to slow-down, unplug and dedicate their time to caring and raising animals.”

 

Visit SECO Energy’s Community page online about its community outreach programs. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.