Applications available for municipal scholarships

The Village of Cobden, in partnership with the Illinois Municipal Utilities Association, IMUA, is again offering a scholarship competition for eligible high school seniors.

Each applicant is asked to submit an application and an essay of 500 words or less addressing the following question:

Renewable energy sources such as wind, biomass and solar are rapidly gaining acceptance as alternate forms of generating electricity not only throughout our country, but throughout our state as well. How can these alternate forms of energy benefit our overall energy mix, and what impact do you see them having on both our state’s and nation’s energy future?

Applicants must be high school seniors whose parents or legal guardians are residential customers of the Village of Cobden municipal utilities.

Scholarship program guidelines and applications are available at the Cobden High School office or at Cobden Village Hall.

The purpose of the program is twofold: to promote and recognize scholastic achievement; and to demonstrate the value of local, publicly-owned utilities.

This will be the 11th year IMUA has offered the program.

The deadline for submitting applications and essays is Friday, March 12. A committee of municipal utility officials will select a total of four finalists, each of whom will receive a $500 scholarship award. Winners will be announced sometime in April.

Organized in 1948, IMUA is a statewide trade association which represents the unified interests of, and provides services to, nearly 75 municipalities which operate their own electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water and wastewater treatment systems. Applicants can contact IMUA for more information at 217-789-4632.