LPEA awarded $89,000 in scholarships to seven local high-school seniors to support their continued education. We received 43 applications for this year’s scholarship programs. Recipients were selected based on merit by a local committee comprised of 11 individuals from across our four districts. 

“On behalf of LPEA and our board, I congratulate all the recipients for securing a scholarship and for continuing their education after high school,” said our CEO Jessica Matlock. “We offer these scholarships every year, and every year they become more important to continue delivering the steady stream of trained individuals needed to keep our power flowing and our lives running. We are honored to do our small part to contribute to a strong future workforce.” 

The 2023 scholarship recipients are as follows: 

• LPEA Scholarship: Awarded to Eliza Bosmans from Durango High School to study computer and mechanical engineering at an accredited university, and to Rio Edmonson from GOAL High School to study political and environmental science at Eckerd College. 

• John Voelker Memorial Scholarship: Awarded to Rebekah Latham from Durango High School to study business and agriculture at Colorado Mesa University Western Community College and to Aiden Rosenberg from Durango High School to study physics and aerospace engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. 

• LPEA Lineworker Scholarship: Awarded to Justin Rivas from Pagosa Springs High School to study to become a journeyman at Northwest Lineman College. 

• Tri-State G&T Scholarship: Awarded to Sofia Maines from Durango High School to study electrical and nuclear engineering at the University of New Mexico and to Zane Ross from Ignacio High School to study to become an electrician at Lincoln Technical College. 

“I am thrilled and honored to receive the LPEA scholarship, which will allow me to attend an institution I may not have otherwise been able to attend,” said Bosmans. “I am very grateful for this opportunity and for the support of my local community.” 

The LPEA Scholarship, John Voelker Memorial Scholarship, and LPEA Lineman Scholarship are funded by our Unclaimed Capital Credit funds. When we can, these credits are retired and returned to members as bill credits or by check. If these checks are not cashed after three years, they are considered unclaimed and put back into the community in the form of grants and scholarships.  

All scholarship recipients will be recognized at our Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. in the LPEA truck barn in Bodo Park, Durango, where all LPEA members are invited to attend.

Congratulations to the scholarship winners on behalf of LPEA!