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Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative is offering a trio of scholarships to seniors and college students: the Luck of the Draw Scholarship, Lineworker Scholarship and Riverland Community College.

Luck of the Draw Scholarship 

Ten scholarships of $1,000 each are available to area high school seniors. Student, parents/legal guardians  must be active members of Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative at the time of the drawing and reside in the cooperative’s service territory. Proof enrollment as a full-time student in the Fall term of 2022 is required  before the funds will be disbursed to the college. Application and essay form are downloadable at  www.fmec.coop and are available from the cooperative office. The deadline to apply is March 11. The awards will be made by a drawing at the cooperative’s annual meeting on Saturday, March 26.

Lineworker Scholarship 

Two scholarships of $1,000 each for post-secondary training in electrical line work are also offered to students.  Applicants for the Lineworker Scholarship must show acceptance into a lineworker training program or proof  of being on a waiting list for the next open enrollment period. Preference will be given to members of Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative and residents of Freeborn and Mower County. Selection criteria will be based on  scholastic achievement, school and community involvement, work history and essay submission. Application  materials are downloadable from the cooperative’s website or can be obtained from the cooperative’s office. Applicants must complete and submit the scholarship application by May 1, 2022.

Riverland Community College

The cooperative also provides scholarship opportunities to Riverland Community College to be awarded to  children of Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative members and adult members of the cooperative who are  returning to school to further their education. To be eligible for a Riverland Community College Scholarship,  the applicant must be a current member of Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative and demonstrate financial need. Scholarships are available to full-time students in any field. Non-traditional students are encouraged to  apply. Applications are available from Riverland Community College.

“One of the seven guiding principals of cooperatives is concern for community. The importance of higher education is clear, so providing scholarships is a wonderful way to strengthen our local communities,” said Mary Nelson, Director of Cooperative Relations.

Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative operates as a not-for-profit entity. The cooperative’s margins, the amount of revenue that exceeds expenses, is shared by the cooperative members through its system of capital  credits. Capital Credits that are undeliverable and unclaimed, are used to fund scholarships in accordance with Minnesota statute.

“The scholarships provide a way to return the funds back to the communities from which they were generated,” Nelson said. “Otherwise, the funds would need to be forfeited to the state.”

Questions regarding any of the Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative scholarships can be directed to Lori  Jimenez at lori.jimenez@fmec.coop or by calling 1-507-379-8852 or 1-800-734-6421.