A Bright Future Ahead for UEC Scholarship Recipients

Umatilla Electric Cooperative (UEC) wants to assist in developing leadership across eastern Oregon by helping ¬¬students to realize their career goals.

The UEC Scholarship Program, founded in 1998, is designed to recognize and encourage the achievements of UEC members and their dependent children. Each year, the co-op awards up to $50,000 to deserving students. The program is split into three categories: Academic, Engineering and Lineman Trade.

This year, nearly 90 applications were received for the scholarship program. The scholarship committee, a group of local businesspeople, met in mid-May to review the applications, and ultimately awarded 14 academic scholarships and one engineering scholarship. The lineman trade scholarship received five applications and are currently in the review and interview process.

The 2024 recipients for the UEC Academic Scholarship Program are:

• Jessica Calvillo Mendoza, a 2022 graduate of University of Oregon is now attending Oregon Health and Science University as a nursing student

• Leah Mueller, a 2024 graduate of Irrigon High School

• Zane Acock, a 2024 graduate of Irrigon High School

• Caren Cardenas Navarette, a freshman at Oregon State University studying civil engineering

• Emily Sharon, a 2024 graduate of Hermiston High School

• Cidney Estes, a sophomore at Tarleton State University, Texas studying agriculture

• Tanner Pearson, a 2023 graduate of Eastern Oregon University, now a senior at Oregon Health and Science University

• Riley Campbell, a 2024 graduate of Hermiston High School

• Keira Denny, a 2024 graduate of Weston-McEwen High School

• Nancy Vert, a 2013 graduate of Oregon State University and 2020 graduate of Saint Martin’s University, now attending Oregon State University for a masters program in school counseling

• Hannah Walker, a 2022 graduate of Oregon State University, now attending a doctoral program at Oregon State University

• Lillian Cooke, a junior at Utah Valley University studying public health

• Horacio Zurita, a sophomore at the University of Portland studying accounting

• Katelyn Wadkins, a sophomore at Blue Mountain Community College studying nursing

For the 2024 UEC Engineering Scholarship, the recipient is:

• Blane Peal, a sophomore at George Fox University studying electrical engineering

“We are proud to offer these scholarships on behalf of the UEC membership,” said Robert Echenrode, UEC General Manager/CEO. “We are inspired by how hard our recipients have worked and what they have achieved, and we wish them the best as they pursue their goals.”

The Umatilla Electric Scholarship Program is an annual scholarship open to UEC members and their dependents. Applications open in the spring each year. More information about the scholarship program can be found at UmatillaElectric.com.