Youth Programs
Scholarships of Excellence
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is committed to the growth of tomorrow’s leaders. Their education is key to building strong communities that can keep pace with our rapidly changing world. For more than a decade, Bluebonnet has awarded in excess of $500,000 in academic and technical or trade school scholarships to area students.
This year, Bluebonnet will award 40 one-time, $3,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who are pursuing a college degree or vocational certificate at a trade and technical program. Applicants must live in the home of a parent or legal guardian who must be a Bluebonnet member with an active account
Applicants will be judged on essays, extracurricular activities and letters of reference.
Bluebonnet awards $3,000 scholarships to 40 service-area graduates. Those pursuing college degrees include: (above, from left, front) Michael Brooks, Brandy Kauder, Hannah Rahman, Shelby Kettrick, Amelia Finch, Brenna Pospisil, Elaine Reiche, Nicole Zwernemann, Alyssa Perry and Zachary Rother. Back row, from left: Clayton Raemsch, Tyler McCoy, Victoria See, Ashlea Hagemann, Taylor Frey, Cesar Udave and Riley Zoch. Not pictured: Elia Lopeza, Kuenia Sarmiento and Kinsi Dean.
Students pursuing certificates in vocational and trade and technical programs include: (above, from left, front) Ashley Nichols, Sydney Sell, Brooke Coufal, Samantha Gomez, Bo Grantham, Lyssa Flores, Taylor Barrett, Adriana Arevalo and Ariel Winkle. Back row, from left: Joe Bosquez, Ciara Longmire, Collin Huber, Cody Kemper, Cody Kaminski, Mauricio Luevano and Sheldon Puryear. Not pictured: Taesha Pettigrew, Leeann Burkett, Zachary Armstrong and Henry Kmiec.
Government-in-Action Youth Tour
Each year, Bluebonnet selects two service-area high school students to represent the cooperative during a tour of Washington, D.C. and a visit to the U.S. Capitol to meet members of Congress. Students selected in 2012 also will receive a $500 scholarship.
The program got its start when Texan and former President Lyndon B. Johnson was a U.S. senator. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association began coordinating tours in 1964 and now about 1,500 teens visit Washington at the same time each year to observe the roles of elected representatives and attend association events.
As part of the selection process, the two teens chosen from Bluebonnet’s service area are required to answer questions about themselves, government and energy efficiency. The students selected for the tour are chosen after in-person interviews with local officials.
Eligible students must be in grades 10, 11 or 12, and live in the home of a parent or legal guardian who must be a Bluebonnet member with an active account.
Bluebonnet's 2012 Government-in-Action Youth Tour winners, Jarrett Namken (front left) of Bastrop and Kameron Schnautz (front right) of Luling. In June, they will tour Washington, D.C., visit the U.S. Capitol and meet members of Congress. Jeremiah Alexander (back row) of Del Valle was chosen as alternate. He will join the tour if one of the winners is unable to attend.
Bluebonnet’s representatives in Washington D.C. in 2011, seeing the sights with 1,599 others onGovernment-in-Action Youth Tour. Bluebonnet employees Gene and Karen Urban (far left and far right), with Palomares and King, were sponsors for the 2011 trip.
Click here to see our past winners on their trip to Washington.
Click here for the full story from the May issue of Texas Co-op Power Magazine.
Electric Junction
Bluebonnet employees teach elementary students about electricity and how to be safe around it during this age-appropriate demonstration. Children are given a brief history of electricity, how it works, how electricity came to rural areas, how it gets to homes and businesses and what can happen when people are not careful around electricity.
During the presentation, Bluebonnet’s employees also explain the co-op’s participation in Rural Crime Watch, a community awareness program to help report and prevent crime. Children are taught that anytime they see someone wearing Bluebonnet’s logo, they are safe to ask that person for help.
This 45-minute presentation is free for 4th graders in Bluebonnet’s service area. It can also be tailored for older children and civic groups. For more information, or to schedule a demonstration, call your community representative.
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