Since 1987, Polk-Burnett has awarded more than $346,000 to 429 children of Polk-Burnett members through the Cooperative Citizen-Scholar Awards program. In 2007, 20 high school seniors are receiving $1,000 scholarships.

Unlike most scholarships, the Cooperative Citizen-Scholar Award program focuses on service, not academic performance. The program offers scholarships to students who've made life better for others by helping their families, communities, and fellow students.

To apply, students must:

• be graduating from high school in the coming year;
• be planning to attend a vocational school, a college, or a university; and
• be the son or daughter of a Polk-Burnett member (those who buy electricity from the co-op).

Click here for a list of the 2007 Scholarship Winners. The application process includes a personal interview with a panel of judges from the area as well as a written application. Applications for 2008 high school seniors will be available later this year.

The Cooperative Citizen-Scholar Award is funded from patronage capital credit (margin) monies whose owners can not be located.