During Public Power Week in early October, Emerald PUD increased its efforts to give back to the communities it serves. The utility has since held coffee giveaways, raised donations in food and clothing drives; and volunteered at schools, food pantries, and community support organizations. These efforts were made to show our customers and communities our appreciation, as well as to celebrate public power and Emerald's 40th anniversary as a working utility.
This month, we continue to give back by sharing exciting news about our EmPOWERing Scholarships program. Emerald's Board of Directors have unanimously approved a substantial increase to the scholarship amount! Starting with the scholarships that will be awarded in 2024, the dollar amount is increased from $3,000 to $5,000 each. The purpose of the increase is to make a bigger financial impact for the
students and to encourage more students to explore careers in the electric utility industry.
Emerald's commitment to its community goes well beyond providing reliable power to customer-owners. We're also committed to supporting community growth and the health of the local economy. We offer scholarships to help develop future generations of utility workers by promoting rewarding careers in the electric utility industry—careers that offer interesting and exciting work with competitive salaries and benefits. And as more local students choose electric utility careers, we ensure our choice to hire locally continues into the future.
2024 Scholarship Program Now Open
EPUD's EmPOWERing Scholarships program is now open and accepting applications for 2024.
Five scholarships of $5,000 each are available to those pursuing utility industry careers, including graduating high school seniors, students starting or continuing college or trade school education, and adults seeking training for a new career. An EmPOWERing Scholarship can help you further your education and learn the skills that may lead to a utility career in the future.
What is a Utility Industry Career?
Line work and tree trimming aren't the only careers you can have in the electric utility industry. In fact, this industry employs a broad range of workers with widely varying skills and trades. Here are a few examples:
- Accounting
- Business
- Communications
- Customer Service
- Energy Efficiency
- Engineering
- Graphic Design
- Human Resources
- Mechanics
- Public Relations
- Purchasing
- Renewable Energy
The EmPOWERing Scholarship program is open to Emerald customers and their family members. Applications and materials must be submitted by January 31, 2024.