VEC Announces Scholarship Recipients

Volunteer Energy Cooperative has announced four recipients of the Lillard-Shadow Scholarships for 2015.

Paula Haslam, daughter of Johnny and Natalie Hope, is a 2015 graduate of McMinn County High School and plans to attend Johnson University.  Paula was selected to attend the Governor’s School for Prospective Teachers and also received first place in Level A and B Spanish poetry competitions.  She has volunteered with Keep McMinn Beautiful, the McMinn Student Council Prom Dress Drive, Relay for Life, and the United Way.

Bethany Young is the daughter of Donald and Melissa Young of Byrdstown.  Bethany is a 2015 graduate of Pickett County High School and plans to attend Tennessee Technological University, with the goal of becoming an occupational therapist.  She has volunteered with the Second Harvest Food Bank, Operation Christmas Child, and local blood drives.

Ooltewah High School graduate and scholarship recipient Chai Park plans to attend UT-Knoxville.  She has volunteered at Erlanger Hospital, served as a mentor at Wallace A. Smith Elementary School, and participated in a local food drive.  She is the daughter of Kwang and Yeun Park of Ooltewah.  Chai has maintained a GPA of 4.0 and obtained a rank of ninth in her graduating class.

Jerrica Hale is a 2015 graduate of Stone Memorial High School.  She is the daughter of Debbie Whittaker of Crossville and plans to attend Tennessee Technological University in the fall.  She has volunteered for various church outreach activities and assisted with Alzheimer’s of Tennessee and Special Olympics.  She plans to pursue a nursing degree.

This scholarship program began in 2003 as a way to honor Willis A. Shadow and J. W. Lillard, founders of the Meigs County Power Association which would ultimately become Volunteer Energy Cooperative.  Four $2,000 scholarships are awarded to high school seniors each year by VEC using an independent panel of judges.