Village of Cobden, state utilities association again offer scholarship program

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

Each eligible applicant is asked to submit an application and an essay of 500 words or less addressing their choice of one of three utility-related questions.

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

Cobden Village Clerk Karen M. Winzenburger said the program has a dual purpose: to promote and recognize scholastic achievement; and to create greater awareness among young adults of the many issues facing consumers and public power municipalities today. 

“Today’s energy providers, including municipally-owned and operated utilities, face a myriad of economic, environmental and other challenges which warrant creative and innovative solutions,” Winzenburger said.  

“Creating a great awareness of these issues among tomorrow’s leaders can be the first step in helping to determine effective, long-term solutions, both now and into the future,” she added.

“Since its inception in 2000, IMUA’s scholarship program has proven to be a very popular and successful program for IMUA, its members and the communities it serves,” said Kevin M. Gaden, president and CEO of the IMUA. 

“Public power communities offer their customers a number of cost, service and other advantages compared to those served by other energy providers.  

“IMUA’s scholarship program is another example of how municipally-owned and operated utility systems can help return value to their communities while at the same time, provide a measure of financial assistance to those students who wish to pursue a college education.”  

Since it began, the program has awarded more than $40,000 to 80 students from 29 different IMUA member communities statewide.

The deadline for submitting applications and essays is Friday, March 9.  

A committee of municipal utility officials will select a total of four finalists, each of whom will receive a certificate and $500 scholarship award. Winners will be announced sometime in April.

Organized in 1948, IMUA is a statewide trade association that represents the unified interests of, and provides services to, 50 municipalities that operate their own electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, and wastewater treatment systems.  

Applicants can contact IMUA’s DeeDee Bunch at 217-789-4632 or dbunch@imea.org for more information.

The Gazette-Democrat

112 Lafayette St.
Anna, Illinois 62906
Office Number: (618) 833-2158
Email: news@annanews.com

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