FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Friday, November 1, 2024

HED: Power Your Future: 2025 OTEC Academic Scholarship Applications Now Open

Baker City, Oregon (OTEC) –   Attention students and all those considering college, applications are now being accepted for 2025 Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative (OTEC) academic scholarships.

As part of its continuing commitment to the Seven Cooperative Principles, particularly the seventh principle - Concern for Community, OTEC, through the OTEC Member Foundation, is excited to offer academic scholarships to eligible students and adults in its service territory.

OTEC’s 2025 Academic Scholarship programs include:  

• The OTEC-EOU Rural Scholarship Program - For the sixth consecutive year, OTEC has partnered with Eastern Oregon University (EOU) to offer four deserving students the opportunity of a lifetime – four years of paid tuition and fees at EOU! Recipients commit to attend and graduate from EOU while also earning valuable experience completing an annual internship with OTEC.
• Graduating High School Student Scholarship - $5,000 academic scholarships awarded to graduating high school students, including home-schooled students.
• Returning College/Adult Scholarship – $5,000 academic scholarships provided to students and adults who are starting or continuing their college education.

Academic scholarship applications will remain open until March 16, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Recipients will be selected based on their applications, including letters of recommendation, academic performance and community or club involvement.  

Applications and specific criteria for all the OTEC scholarships are available on OTEC’s website at otec.coop/scholarships.

OTEC’s Manager of Communications, Shane Stenquist, expressed, “OTEC’s support of our member-owners through academic scholarships, charitable giving and service projects demonstrates our commitment to the communities in our service territory. Their lasting impacts are part of our ongoing commitment to a prosperous and sustainable future for all of Baker, Grant, Harney and Union counties.”

About the cooperative

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative (OTEC) is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperative that serves nearly 60,000 residents in four counties in Eastern Oregon. Headquartered in Baker City, OTEC has district offices in Burns, John Day and La Grande.