SECO Energy has extended its 2020 Youth Scholarship Program deadline from Friday, March 27, to Friday, May 1, in response to Florida school district closures to protect students from COVID-19 risk. Applications will also be accepted without the normally required counselor signatures.
For over two decades, SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees has renewed its annual commitment to members and the communities the cooperative serves by approving the Scholarship Program for local students. A total of $36,000 is available for 12 recipients to receive $3,000 each.
SECO Energy has adjusted the eligibility requirements for the 2020 Scholarship Program to better align with its corporate goals. SECO believes its annual scholarships are a way to spark an interest in energy industry careers and should be used as a recruitment tool.
To be eligible to apply, the student must be interested in pursuing a career in the energy sector. The student must live in a home served by SECO and be a high school senior who is graduating this school year (2019-2020). Awardees must be enrolled full-time in an accredited college, university or vocational/technical school located in Florida by the end of 2020. Students should also be pursuing a degree in technology, engineering, math or business. The student may also pursue a certification directly related to jobs in the electric industry.
CEO Jim Duncan stated, “SECO Energy has provided youth scholarships to help students complete their quest for a higher education for over twenty years. We firmly believe in supporting students who are interested in a career in the energy industry and didn’t want to let the current COVID-19 situation block these local students. Extending the youth scholarship program deadline to May 1 will allow students the flexibility to complete the application process.”
Scholarship applications are available on our Scholarship page. Those without internet access can, email Communications to request a mailed paper application.
View a slideshow of past scholarship awardees, print an application and read more about eligibility requirements online. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.
This year we are adjusting the eligibility requirements to better align with our corporate goals. The focus of the scholarship program is shifting to a recruitment tool to spark an interest in energy industry careers. Our goal is to attract local students who want to come to SECO Energy for internship opportunities during breaks and begin their careers with us after graduation.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports that almost 2 million people are employed in jobs related to electric power generation and fuels. In that group, nearly half a million people are employed in jobs directly related to electric power generation, transmission and distribution.
The DOE also reports the number of jobs in the energy sector is increasing – thus the demand for a skilled workforce follows. New careers are evolving that focus on renewable energy, natural gas and information and communications technology. But the energy industry workforce is aging. Almost thirty percent of energy industry employees are on the cusp of retirement or between the ages of 51 and 60. Furthermore, thirty-three percent of energy industry workers are between the ages of 41 and 50.
An aging workforce and the need for employees interested in highly-skilled careers in the energy industry are driving the eligibility change in SECO’s 2020 Scholarship Program.
To be eligible to apply, the student must be interested in pursuing a career in the energy sector. The student must be a graduating senior who lives in a home served by SECO Energy. Awardees must be enrolled full-time in an accredited Florida college, university or vocational/ technical school by the end of 2020. Students should also be pursuing a degree or certification in technology, engineering, math or business.
Applications are available beginning January 2, 2020 online. For those without Internet access, applications are also available in all Member Service Centers. The application must be received in our corporate offices on or before Friday, March 27, 2020.
If you have questions about the scholarship program, email Communications. Or you can call and visit with Eneida Robaina in the Corporate Communications group. Eneida manages the scholarship program and is also this month’s SECO Champion. Read about her next and watch her video on YouTube.
In addition to transforming into a viable recruiting tool, our Scholarship Program embraces two of the seven cooperative principles observed by SECO: Concern for Community and Education, Training and Information. I wish our applicants the best and look forward to meeting our scholarship winners at the awards banquet on May 18, 2020.
Sincerely,
Jim Duncan
Chief Executive Officer
SECO Champion – Eneida Robaina
Length of Service: 10 Years
“MY FAMILY IS SUPPORTIVE WHEN DUTY CALLS.” Eneida Robaina is a Senior Staff Assistant in Corporate Communications. Eneida also coordinates SECO’s Scholarship Program and has implemented the program changes to cultivate our future workforce. Eneida organizes the applications, answers scholarship inquiries and arranges the yearly awards banquet for recipients and their families.
Eneida moved to Sumterville from South Florida in 2001 with her family. She is a world traveler and also enjoys spending weekends on the family boat. Her family is understanding when Eneida works long hours or overnights in her role in the Emergency Restoration Plan during major weather events like Hurricane Irma. Eneida believes she is incredibly fortunate to work at SECO and is proud to represent a utility that truly puts its members first. Eneida is a SECO employee and a member, too.
Advice from The Old Farmer’s Almanac
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Many of us ring in the new year with a list of resolutions. The Old Farmer’s Almanac offers guidance on the best date in January 2020 to begin some of the most popular resolutions. The best day to quit smoking is January 6 or 11. Best day to color your hair on January 4 – 6, straighten your hair is January 20 or 21 or wait until January 24 – 26 for a new perm. Start your diet on January 14 or 19 and travel for pleasure on January 11 or 12 – before starting your New Year diet!
Winter Heating – Wood-Burning Fireplaces
During winter months, will a wood-burning fireplace heat your home more efficiently than your HVAC unit? SECO’s Energy Services experts report it’s not likely.
A wood-burning fireplace pulls oxygen and heat from other areas in your home. As much as 30 percent of that heat goes up the chimney creating a drop in your home’s temperature. When the temperature drops, your HVAC unit cycles more frequently.
To increase fireplace efficiency, consider installing glass doors or a fireback. Doors will serve as a barrier that reduces the amount of warm indoor air that escapes through the chimney. In the summer, glass doors will help prevent warm outside air from entering your home through the chimney. A fireback is an iron or steel often decorative plate that is installed at the back of the fireplace. Not only does this protect the fireplace masonry, it absorbs the heat and reflects it into the room.
Your best bet for fireplace energy efficiency is to not use the fireplace in conjunction with your HVAC unit. The glow from a wood-burning fire adds a lovely ambiance to a room and is perfect for times when it is only a little chilly.
Safety Corner – Kids’ Electrical Safety Tips
Children are innately curious and enjoy learning about the word they live in. Teach children and grandchildren to be cautious around energized equipment inside and outside the home.
Install outlet protectors in rooms where children can reach electrical outlets. Children and adults can be shocked or injured by placing foreign objects in outlets. Teach children to never operate appliances without a responsible adult present. Water and electricity don’t mix – never place electronics near water.
Inspect trees where children are playing to ensure that branches are far away from overhead power lines. Do not let children climb trees growing close to electric lines. Never touch outdoor wires with any part of your body, toys or other objects. Keep kites, balloons, drones and toy planes away from poles and wires. Children should never be allowed to play near substations or underground transformers.
Find more electrical safety tips on our electrical safety page.
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’s Board of Trustees has once again approved $36,000 in 2019 scholarships to support local students looking to fulfill their quest for a higher education. SECO has provided over $500,000 in scholarships to area students during the program’s 20-year tenure.
The Cooperative will award up to 12 local high school students a $3,000 scholarship toward their education at an accredited college, university or vocational/technical school located in Florida. To be considered, applicants must live in a home served by SECO and must graduate in the 2019 school year (May/June). Awardees must be enrolled full time by the end of 2019 to receive the scholarship disbursement.
Scholarship awards are based on scholastic achievements, community service and financial need as well as an interest in pursuing a career in the energy field. An independent group of educators from within SECO’s service area evaluates all applicants and determines the winners.
CEO Jim Duncan encourages area high school seniors to apply stating, “We are happy to continue SECO’s scholarship program in 2019. SECO embraces educational initiatives, especially ones that may lead to future energy industry careers. In addition to scholarships, SECO has formed a partnership with Dunnellon High School assisting students in its Power Generation Academy. We talk to students of all ages about careers at SECO when attending career fairs.”
Duncan added, “Our communities are full of bright, talented young men and women who are looking for stable employment close to their hometowns with benefits and competitive compensation. We hope that our scholarship winners will choose to apply for a position at SECO as they begin their career.”
Scholarship applications are available beginning January 2 at SECO’s Member Service Centers or on our Scholarship page. Students can also pick up an application at their local high school guidance counselors’ offices.
Mail completed applications to: SECO Energy Attn: Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 301, Sumterville, FL 33585-0301. SECO must receive the completed application by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 29. Winners will be notified by phone or letter on or before April 26. The awards banquet is scheduled for May 20, 2019.
“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. Visit our Community page to learn more about SECO’s corporate citizenship and other community outreach initiatives.
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 Energy’s Board of Trustees has continued its long-standing college scholarship program for 2017. The Board has approved for up to $36,000 in college scholarships be awarded to graduating high school seniors who live in a home served by SECO. The application deadline is March 31, 2017.
Students from area high schools will compete for twelve (12) $3,000 scholarships to an accredited college, university or vocational/technical school. To qualify, students must be a graduating high school senior, live in a home serviced by SECO, and plan to be enrolled as a full-time student in the fall.
The SECO Scholarship program began in 1996 and has granted over $500,000 to local students who dream of a college education. Concern for Community is a key cooperative principle, and as a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO believes in supporting its members and communities by providing financial assistance to aspiring scholars.
CEO Jim Duncan stated, “Central Florida is full of smart, talented young people who are growing into the leaders of tomorrow. We want to entice these talented folks to return to the area and hopefully be interested in pursuing a career in the energy industry. I am proud that SECO is an advocate for education and academia.”
Ray Vick, Board of Trustees President, stated, “The Board is proud to continue its service to our communities by sponsoring students who want to further their education. On behalf of myself and the Board, we are excited to meet the newest crop of SECO scholars at the winners’ banquet that is held in May.”
Visit SECO’s Scholarship page for more details or to print an application. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.
