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Foundation Awards Scholarships

>> The Tri-County EMC Foundation granted its first four scholarships through a new program offering financial assistance for students. Twice a year, the Foundation will award up to $4,000 in scholarships to deserving students who receive their electricity from Tri-County EMC.  Applicants are graded according to academics, financial need and community involvement. Unlike the cooperative scholarship, priority is given to nontraditional students who are working full or part-time jobs and have returned to school. A panel of outside judges awarded four $500 scholarships to the following students. (2256-01)

The first recipient is Rebecca "Joy" Dunnam of Gordon. She will attend Central Georgia Technical College this summer and major in nursing to pursue her life-long dream of ministering to Asian orphans as a nurse. One of the many volunteer projects Joy worked with upon completing her high school studies in 2001, was venturing to Taiwan to teach English and character education to elementary students. Joy summarizes, "The entire experience was a very rewarding time for me in which I had to stretch my horizons in many ways."

Sherian Denise Gault was also awarded a scholarship. She has participated in several community and church projects. This fall, Sherian plans to begin her studies in computer science at Georgia State University. Sherian aspires "... to make a contribution to society by adding to the body of knowledge that already exists. Whether through NASA or IBM, I truly believe I can make a positive impact in this field."

Cindy Purcell of Baldwin County earned a  scholarship. She is currently employed as an accountant and  takes classes at Georgia College and State University. Cindy plans to earn her graduate degree in management information systems. In addition to working and studying, Cindy assists with her son's Boy Scout pack and was involved in the production of the community time-capsule project "Tales of the Backstoop" to preserve oral histories and plays created for Milledgeville for use in 2053. Her husband is also a fullt-time student.

Ashley Tyson will apply her $500 scholarship toward her studies in law at Georgia State University this fall. "My dreams and aspirations lie within the parameters of the one thing to which I find myself completely enthralled, our legal system," Ashley writes. "The mere thought of law fascinates me." 
 She earned her BBA graduating Cum Laude from the University of Georgia in the spring. Ashley has enjoyed helping people through her church, the Baptist Student Union, Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army and other organizations. <<