Press release
Five Central Virginia high school seniors have each earned $1,000 college scholarships awarded
by the Education Scholarship Foundation of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of
Electric Cooperatives. The recipients are:
Shaniya Johnson of Appomattox, a student at Appomattox County High School
Brooke Nazar of Palmyra, a student at Fluvanna County High School
Rachel Hoefner of Palmyra, a student at Fluvanna County High School
Alisha Hunsaker of Keswick, a student at Fluvanna County High School
Malena Stallard of Palmyra, a student at Fluvanna County High School
The students were eligible for consideration because their parents are members of Central
Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC). “The cost of college and post-graduation training
programs are steadily rising and CVEC recognizes that seniors in our rural communities can
benefit from scholarships to help offset those costs,” says Gary Wood, president and CEO of
CVEC. “It is such a pleasure to see that five of our high school seniors were selected as
recipients.”
Scholarship recipients were chosen based on a competitive screening process that considers
financial need (40 percent), academic achievement (40 percent) and community involvement (20
percent). Applicants must be a senior graduating from either high school or home school in 2020.
They must also provide evidence of their acceptance into a post-high school educational
institution or program. These grants can be used to pay for tuition, fees and books.
“We commend these students on their outstanding academic achievements,” said Russell G.
“Rusty” Brown, chair of the VMDAEC Education Scholarship Foundation Committee and vice
chairman of the board of directors at Northern Neck Electric Cooperative. “Our electric
cooperatives are delighted to provide support to these worthy students, as they represent a future
generation of leaders in their communities.”
This year, the Foundation awarded 57 Worth Hudson scholarships of $1,000 each to students
who live in areas served by electric cooperatives in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. The
scholarships are named in honor of Hudson, the Foundation’s first chairman. Since 2001, the
Foundation has provided approximately 780 scholarships totaling more than $740,000 to aspiring
college students as well as to the next generation of electric lineworkers.
The Foundation is funded through tax-deductible donations and bequests from individuals,
proceeds from benefit fundraising events and CoBank’s Sharing Success Program.
