POWDER RIVER ENERGY CORPORATION SCHOLARSHIPS
Powder River Energy Corporation facilitates a variety of competitive scholarships for eligible high school students from northeastern Wyoming. PRECorp’s service territory covers Sheridan, Johnson, Weston, Campbell and Crook counties.
To apply for any of the scholarships, students must satisfy the required criteria and complete the scholarship application, which can be obtained from area high school guidance offices, directly from PRECorp business offices or online at www.precorp.coop.
Scholarships
YOUTH LEADERSHIP CAMP - July 12-17, 2025
Application deadline January 15, 2025
Powder River Energy co-sponsors local high school students to attend the “Youth Leadership Camp” in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The students develop their leadership skills, tour industry sites and enjoy the resort community. During the week in mid-July, students have the opportunity to find out how co-ops work and find out what’s happening in the world of electric energy. Highlights included visits to Craig Station; the largest coal fired electric generating plant in Colorado, the Trapper Coal Mine, and a solar farm.
The Colorado high country is a great place to play as well. A gondola ride up Mt. Werner at the Steamboat Ski Resort, a side trip to Fish Creek Falls for hiking, and a variety of attractions in Steamboat Springs are all part of the festivities. Of course, there are the great cabins, tons of free time, hot springs pools, barbecues, great food, and dances with over 100 people.
To apply, students must be in high school and their parents/guardians must have an account with Powder River Energy Corporation. The week is completely funded, including transportation, room and board, etc.
Students that attend camp can qualify for the National Washington DC tour with over 2,000 students from all over the U.S. attending. Many of our students have gone on to receive scholarships, speaking engagements and national recognition.
Questions? Please email or call the marketing communications department at communications@precorp.coop or 1-800-442-3630 for more information.
POWDER RIVER ENERGY CORPORATION/FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP
In 2025, Powder River Energy Corporation will award scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each to 19 qualifying graduates from high schools in its service territory. The Powder River Energy Foundation Board of Directors selects the recipients.
To be eligible the applicant’s parents or legal guardians must be members of, and receive electric service from Powder River Energy. The applicant must be a student who is enrolled, or plans to enroll, in an accredited two-year college, four-year college or vocational technical school. The scholarships are available to high school seniors graduating in 2025 and qualifying college students.
The deadline for Powder River Energy Corporation Scholarship is February 28, 2025.
The objective of the PRECorp Apprentice Lineman Scholarship is to encourage, promote, and educate line workers for enduring and rewarding careers.
The Powder River Energy Foundation manages the Rising Opportunity Student Scholarship (R.O.S.S.) program. The Foundation will award up to four $2,000 scholarships for students entering tuition-based training, certification, and degree programs.
The program is made possible by a fund established by Campbell County native Perry Ross. Mr. Ross retired from business with a substantial living trust and has established an educational scholarship program to help others succeed in life.
R.O.S.S. APPLICATION CRITERIA:
- Applicants must provide the following:
- Other scholarships they are receiving and/or applying for.
- Number of dependents in the home and/or school age children.
- Short essay on career aspirations and educational objectives.
- Information on personal needs and challenges in seeking higher education.
- List of activities applicant has participated in i.e., work experience, community involvement, etc.
- Letters of reference.
- Applicants can be any age (not necessarily recent high school graduates or full-time college students). Adults who are entering a tuition-based education program are eligible to apply.
- While high academic scores are welcome, applicants who are solid students, hard workers, and dedicated to their success are preferred candidates.
- Preferred applicants should reside in Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Sheridan, or Weston counties. They need not be a PRECorp member to receive a R.O.S.S.
- Students awarded scholarships may change educational institutions in pursuit of their career objectives without jeopardizing their scholarship funding.
Successful recipients of R.O.S.S. program scholarships are encouraged to apply each year provided they are in good academic standing and are continuing to pursue their educational objectives.
BASIN ELECTRIC POWER COOPERATIVE SCHOLARSHIP
Basin Electric Power Cooperative will award scholarships in the amount of $1,000. One student from the PRECorp membership service territory may be chosen. The filing deadline for the Basin Electric Power Scholarship is January 31, 2025.
To apply students must satisfy the required criteria and complete the scholarship application, which can be obtained from area high school guidance offices or directly from PRECorp business offices.
$400 to $1,000 to qualifying seniors from Coal Country FFA or Gillette FFA in Campbell County, who are pursuing careers benefitting the agriculture industry. The deadline for Barb and Bill Geis Memorial Scholarship is March 1, 2024.
THE WREA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The WREA Line worker Scholarship program is intended to help local people complete an approved regional line worker training program to learn basics of line work, and enable that person to become an apprentice line tech. The $3,000 scholarship will be paid over the course of the program.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, possess a valid driver’s license, and maintain a 2.5 grade point average while you are enrolled in the training program.
ADKINS SCHOLARSHIP
The Neil T. Adkins Scholarship was set up in memory of a young man who was killed in an automobile accident in June 2009. Neil was 20 years old and had attended Bismarck State College in the Lineworker Program. In May, he had begun his new career with 3-C Construction in Bismarck and was enjoying his success in the Lineworker field. Neil was a lifelong resident of Wyoming and received the WREA Scholarship to help him achieve his goal. In memory of Neil, we hope this scholarship will help a deserving student become successful in the Lineworker Program.
Visite RMEL Foundation to see more about the scholarships they offer.
DAR HACKWORTH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The Dar Hackworth Lineworker Scholarship was created in 2006 in memory of Dar Hackworth. Hackworth was born and raised in Ohio. In August 1997, he moved with his family to Powell, Wyoming where he became an electrical lineworker with Garland Light & Power Company. He became superintendent in 2000. He had been interested in music since he was young and became a talented musician, playing banjo and guitar with the bluegrass Gospel band, “Witness.” Hackworth loved spending time with his family and friends and time in the mountains, hunting, fishing and riding horses. Hackworth loved his job with Garland Light & Power Company and was highly respected by his peers in the industry. Hackworth lost his life in the summer of 2005 in a non-utility-related accident while enjoying some of those things he loved in life the most.