For the past several years, the San Luis Valley REC has made secondary education a priority when giving back to the Valley. With just over $180,000 given in the past five years, the REC annually awards up to 12 scholarships to local students.

The awards are primarily reserved for REC members’ children, although a few of the scholarships are available to other Valley students as well.
“The SLVREC scholarship has been such a blessing to me; it has provided me with the means to get my degree and work towards my dream of becoming a teacher,” said

Adams State freshman Aleceya Tolsma.

Aleceya was awarded the 2019 SLV REC Adams State University Four-Year Scholarship, which is renewable for up to a maximum of four years. The value of the scholarship equals the total of in-state tuition, some fees and a book allowance for the award year.

Balancing seven classes, Aleceya is majoring in elementary education with an emphasis in mathematics. “The support I have received from the community, specifically through the REC, has become a huge part of my college experience and a wonderful motivator; knowing that I have supporters who are pushing me to succeed. I can’t thank this company enough for providing me with my education,” she commented.

Anthony Lewis, Alamosa graduate and 2018 four-year scholarship recipient, is majoring in Exercise Science. He commented on his education at ASU, “This scholarship means a lot to me because it is helping me greatly in paying for me to go to college. I just finished my first year of college; it was a very new experience. I enjoyed it very much and had very exciting moments, from the classroom to the soccer field. I am looking forward to another three great years at this university.”

Del Norte graduate Bailey Jones was the recipient of the four-year scholarship in 2017. Studying elementary education at Adams State University, Bailey will graduate in December 2020. “Without the help of the REC, I wouldn’t have been able to go to college; it’s so expensive. I especially wouldn’t have been able to do it without student loans,” she commented. “It’s amazing not to have to pay for anything towards college; it’s been so helpful.

In addition to the four-year scholarship, the REC awards the following:

• Electric Lineworker Scholarship: $4,000
• Robert Wolfe Scholarship: $1,000
• SLVREC Past Director Scholarship: $1,000
• SLVREC Past Retired GM Ray Villyard & CEO John Villyard Scholarship: $1,000
• Basin Electric Power Cooperative Scholarship: $1,000
• Tri-State G&T Scholarships (six): $500/each

For full requirements and details, see the scholarship application online at slvrec.com/content/scholarships. The deadline to apply is just around the corner on Feb. 6, 2020.