Sangre de Cristo Electric Association Awards Scholarships to 16 Area Students

We at Sangre de Cristo Electric Association (SDCEA) are thrilled to announce that 16 outstanding students from our community have earned post-high school scholarship awards from SDCEA for the 2024 through 2025 school year. This achievement highlights the ongoing commitment of SDCEA to support the educational aspirations of local youth.

The scholarship recipients were chosen following a comprehensive application process that concluded in January, with awards distributed in March. This year, scholarships were granted to students from high schools in Buena Vista, Cotopaxi, and Lake County. Eligibility for these scholarships extends to members or dependents of SDCEA members. 27 students applied for the awards this year, showcasing immense talent and ambition within our communities.

Congratulations to Peyton Wakefield, a senior at Buena Vista High School, who was awarded a four-year scholarship valued at $2,000 per year. Additionally, 12 students received 1-year $2,000 scholarships from SDCEA. Other scholarships include 1 employee-dependent scholarship of $2,000, and 2 $1,000 scholarships sponsored jointly by Tri-State Generation and Transmission and SDCEA.

The selection of scholarship recipients was conducted by a dedicated committee comprised of SDCEA directors and staff who have no familial ties to the applicants. To ensure a fair and unbiased selection process, all personal identifying information of the applicants was redacted before independent reviews were carried out by each committee member. The committee then collectively made the final award decisions.

SDCEA takes immense pride in its longstanding tradition of supporting educational excellence through our scholarship program. Subject to the availability of funds, scholarships may be awarded annually to assist students in pursuing higher education at accredited institutions, including lineworker schools. Students who have applied for or received scholarships in previous years are also eligible to reapply if they meet eligibility criteria. Details regarding the application process are posted each fall on our website and distributed to area high schools within SDCEA’s service territory.

We extend our congratulations to all the scholarship winners and wish them the best in their future endeavors. For more information about the SDCEA scholarship program, please visit the Community section online at the Youth Programs page.