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SECO Energy Celebrates 2024 Scholarship Awardees

SECO Energy has announced its 2024 SECO Energy Scholarship Awardees. Each of the twelve scholarship awardees will receive $3,000 to advance their education. SECO Energy’s scholarship program targets local students who will attend a Florida college, university, or trade school. 

 

The applicants were judged on their scholastic record (weighted GPS), school/community activities, and financial need. Consideration was given to applicants whose stated major was a degree in technology, business, engineering, or mathematics, especially as they relate to the energy sector. Relevant majors include, but are not limited to, computer science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical, nuclear, environmental, civil, agricultural/biological, industrial, materials science, and various branches of mathematics. 

 

SECO Energy Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors graduating in May or June of the current year who live in a home served by SECO Energy. The awardee must enroll as a full-time student in an accredited Florida college, university, or trade school before the end of 2024.

 

 

2024 SECO Energy Scholarship Winners

Name High School Resides In
Garrett Harrison The Villages Charter High School Fruitland Park
Presley S. Stanton Florida Virtual School Clermont
Armand Grable Wildwood Middle-High School Wildwood
Charles Anthony Tavares High School Astatula
Fabian DeJesus-Colon West Port High School Ocala
Delbie Zayas Rosado Wildwood Middle-High School Groveland
Ramiya Blackwell Wildwood Middle-High School Ocala
Jubilette Huff Wildwood Middle-High School Wildwood
Eden Thomas West Port High School Ocala
Faith Long South Sumter High School Webster
Michael A. Viel, Jr. Eustis High School Eustis
Jacob R. Davis Leesburg High School Lady Lake

 

2024 SECO Energy Scholarship Awardees Congratulated

SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn

SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn congratulated the 2024 SECO Energy Scholarship recipients. Wynn stated, “I want to congratulate our 2024 Scholarship awardees, it is uplifting to see students investing in themselves by pursuing an advanced education. Their efforts in the next few years could launch a fruitful career that opens the door to personal achievements that impact entire communities and beyond. The energy industry is growing, and the technology we rely on is advancing quickly. We will need an ongoing supply of ambitious talent in many capacities to carry SECO Energy forward. By awarding these scholarships, SECO is investing in students who have demonstrated their readiness to work hard and build a bright future for themselves.” 

 

Wynn continued, “We hope these twelve awardees continue to set high goals and work to achieve them. When they look to begin their professional career, we hope they will consider joining SECO Energy. We are growing rapidly and will be a leading employer in our region for years to come. Our compensation and benefits package, which includes comprehensive medical and dental insurance, generous paid time off, 401k with company matching contributions, a retirement pension plan, an employee-referral program, and student loan reimbursement are competitive in any market. So, when it’s time to get to work, make SECO Energy your first call.” 

 

SECO Energy is hiring! To view open positions, set up job alerts, and apply online, visit: SECOEnergy.com > Your Co-op > Careers. 

 

“Like” SECO Energy on Facebook and follow @SECOEnergy on X/Twitter for prize drawings, news releases, and severe weather alerts affecting SECO Energy’s service territory. Manage your outage notification preferences at StormCenter. To see when SECO Energy crews/contractors are working in your area, visit our new System Improvement Map. To learn more about SECO Energy as a not-for-profit cooperative, visit About SECO Energy.

SECO Energy Announces 2023 Energy Scholarship Awardees

SECO Energy has announced its 2023 SECO Energy Scholarship Awardees. Each of the seven scholarship awardees will receive $3,000 to advance their education. SECO Energy’s scholarship program targets local students intending to prepare for a career in the energy industry. 

 

SECO Energy Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors graduating in May or June of the current year. A primary qualification to receive an award is residence in a home served by SECO Energy. The awardee must enroll as a full-time student in an accredited Florida college, university, or trade school before the end of 2023. The degree objective or electric-industry-related certification must demonstrate a commitment to pursuing a career in the energy field. The core studies would focus on technology, engineering, math, or business and would ultimately lead to a career in the energy industry, possibly SECO Energy.

 

The 2023 SECO Energy Scholarship awardees are:  

 

Tanner Copen – Leesburg High School 

Lauren Ashley Mickens – Lake Minneola High School 

Broc Kinley – South Sumter High School 

Grace Flynn – South Lake High School 

Imani Linzy – Lake Weir High School 

Andrew Collins – The Villages Charter High School 

Grant David – Tavares High School 

 

2023 SECO Energy Scholarship Awardees Congratulated

SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn congratulates 2023 SECO Energy Scholarship winners
SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn

SECO Energy Chief Executive Officer Curtis Wynn congratulated the 2023 SECO Energy Scholarship recipients. Mr. Wynn stated, “It is refreshing to see students committing themselves to an education that could launch a career in the energy industry. There are countless opportunities ahead for these scholars to play important roles in energy, from generation to transmission to management. The path they are choosing can provide a lifetime of personal satisfaction, financial security, and pride, knowing the contributions they make positively impact local communities, regions, and even our country.”  

 

Wynn continued, “We hope these seven awardees attain their goals, and as SECO Energy supports the start of their educational objectives, we hope they will consider joining SECO when they begin their energy industry career. SECO is growing rapidly, and we will continue to be a leading employer in our region. Our compensation and benefits package, which includes comprehensive medical and dental insurance, generous paid time off, 401k with company matching contributions, employee-referral program, remote work options for certain positions and student loan reimbursement are competitive in any market. So, when it’s time to come home from your university or technical school and get to work, make SECO Energy your first call.” 

 

SECO Energy is hiring! To view open positions, set up job alerts and submit an application online, visit SECO Energy Careers. 

 

“Like” SECO Energy on Facebook and follow @SECOEnergy on Twitter for prize drawings, news releases, and severe weather alerts affecting SECO Energy’s service territory. Manage your outage notification preferences at StormCenter. To see when SECO Energy crews/contractors are working, visit SECO’s new System Improvement map. To learn more about SECO Energy as a not-for-profit cooperative, visit About SECO Energy. 

SECO Energy Back-To-School Program Funds $3,500 for Lake County Educational Foundation

SECO Energy’s back-to-school program allocated Lake County public school students with $3,500 to the county’s Educational Foundation. As a not-for-profit local electric cooperative, SECO believes in supporting the communities it serves. The Foundation will use the funds for its ACT Prep Program.

 

The Educational Foundation of Lake County piloted the ACT Prep Program at Leesburg High School six years ago and it is now funded at six Lake County high schools. To graduate, high school students must pass the state-mandated tenth grade reading assessment. 413 students in the 2020 class are in jeopardy of not graduating because they did not pass the assessment. The ACT program helps these students bolster their reading skills. Students have a second chance to graduate by earning an acceptable concordance score on the ACT or SAT.

 

The ACT program is incredibly successful. 76 to 83 percent of students who complete the program are able to graduate on time. Two years ago, the graduation rate in Lake County was 74 percent. School administrators believe the 2020 graduating percentage will increase to 88 percent. Much of this increase is attributed to the ACT Reading Prep Program.

 

The Education Foundation’s Community Outreach Liaison Audra Dick is thankful for SECO’s valued partnership. Dick stated, “SECO Energy’s investment in the Educational Foundation of Lake County’s ACT Prep Program will give 413 students a chance to walk across the stage in May of 2020, diploma in hand.”

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “SECO Energy is honored to support Lake County students through its back-to-school program’s contribution to the Educational Foundation of Lake County. As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO believes an investment in education is a benefit to all of our members. In Lake County, we serve over 65,000 homes and businesses. Teachers are an invaluable community asset, they enrich our communities by educating our future leaders and as a benefit to SECO, possibly our future employees.”

 

Learn more about SECO Energy and its efforts to support education and local communities on our Community page. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

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.