Seven Marengo County graduating high school seniors recently received scholarships from the Black Warrior Electric Membership Corporation. They are among 10 students from  across West Central Alabama presented the $500 scholarships by Black Warrior through the Electric Cooperative Foundation, which was created by Alabama’s electric cooperatives as a means to give back to their communities.

“We had some great, well-deserving students who applied this year,” said A.R. Taylor Jr., vice president of the Black Warrior Electric Board of Trustees. “We are extremely proud of these students, and are very delighted to help them continue their education at the college level, which we hope will put them on the paths to great careers.”

This is the third year Black Warrior has awarded scholarships. Marengo County scholarship winners are:

• SueEllen Marie Broussard of Faunsdale. Broussard is a student at Southern Academy and plans to attend Auburn University with a major in Agricultural Communications.

• James Ledell Pearson of Myrtlewood. Pearson is a student at Sweetwater High School and plans to study Electrical and Instrumentation at Coastal Alabama Community College.

• Shelby Ray Gandy of Coatopa. Gandy is a Demopolis High student and plans to major in Business Administration at the University of West Alabama.

• Maggie Anne Bradley of Livingston. Bradley is a student at Demopolis High School and plans to study Nursing at the University of Alabama.

• Jeffery Dalton Sewell of Gallion. Sewell, a student at Demopolis High School, plans to study Aerospace Engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

• Kerra Paige Means of Eutaw. The Demopolis High student plans to major in Biochemistry and Pre-Pharmacy at Samford University.

• Breanna Braxton of Gallion. Braxton attends Demopolis High School and plans to major in Communicative Disorders at the University of Alabama.

The other West Central Alabama students who received scholarships are:

• Aaliyah Beyonce Jackson of Uniontown. Jackson, a student at Robert C. Hatch High School, plans to study Nursing at Troy University.

• Aaron David Wilson of Gilbertown. Wilson attends Southern Choctaw High School and plans to go into Pre-Med at the University of South Alabama.

• Marshall Dwayne Manning of Toxey. Manning, a student at South Choctaw Academy, plans to attend the University of South Alabama with a major in Engineering.

To qualify for a scholarship, a student must be a graduating high school senior who is the dependent of a cooperative member. The money is awarded directly to the school of the student’s choosing. To spread the word about the scholarships, applications were distributed to the more than 20 high schools in the utility’s 12-county coverage area.

“Last year, we increased the number of scholarships we award annually to 10, and we were able to match that this year,” Black Warrior Board Member C. Irvin Eatman said.  “It’s our way of demonstrating to students the importance of education and rewarding the good work these students have demonstrated.”

Peter M. Reynolds Jr., secretary-treasurer of the Black Warrior Board, sees the scholarships as investments in the community that will pay dividends down the road.

“Everyone on this board knows that education is the key to success no matter where you are,” Reynolds said. “In order for this region to grow economically and culturally, our young people will have to develop into our leaders of tomorrow. We want them to get a good education and use their knowledge and skills here.”

Black Warrior Electric General Manager Daryl Jones explained that the scholarship applications were evaluated by the Electric Cooperative Foundation, which on behalf of the electric cooperatives has been awarding scholarships to vocational and trade schools and four-year colleges and universities since 2001. Over the years, the foundation has awarded scholarships totaling more than a half-million dollars.

Black Warrior Electric Membership Corporation is a member-owned cooperative that has provided reliable, economical service to West Central Alabama since 1939. It serves about 26,000 customers in 12 counties. For information, go to www.blackwarrioremc.com.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, June 5 issue of the Demopolis Times.)