PRECO 2021 Scholarship Winners
Posted: June 16, 2021 at 11:14 am
PrintFulfilling Hopes and Dreams
PRECO’s Operation Round Up Foundation invests $104,000 in scholarships to help local students achieve their career goals.
The future is looking bright for 21 local students receiving college scholarships from their electric cooperative. Operation Round Up, the charitable foundation of Wauchula-based Peace River Electric Cooperative, recently granted a total of $104,000 in scholarships for a group of hard-working college-bound students.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a financial toll on many families in our service area,” states Ellen Hamel, Operation Round Up chairperson. “For some students, this scholarship opportunity may spell the difference between going to college or staying home this year.”
Funding for Operation Round Up comes from the donations of PRECO’s consumers. Each participating consumer’s electric bill is “rounded up” to the next dollar to provide charitable funds in the areas of food, shelter, clothing, health, environmental and education needs. Participation is voluntary.
Since 2006, Operation Round Up has granted more than $1 million in college scholarships to 214 local students.
$8,000, 4-year scholarships
Sophia Coscia – Booker High School
New York University
Entertainment Production and Design
Kyle Evans – Southeast High School
Cornell University
Environmental Engineering
Julia Kuehn – Lakewood Ranch High School
Florida State University
Pediatric Medicine
Kyndra McLeod
University of South Florida
Health Science/Physical Therapy
Emma Paliotta – Lakewood Ranch High School
University of Florida
Veterinary Medicine
$4,000, 2-year scholarships
Kaila Amato – State College of Florida
University of South Florida
Psychology/ Dental Hygiene
Garrett Andrews – Lakewood Ranch High School
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Civil Engineering
James Ansley – Cardinal Mooney High School
University of South Florida
Doctor of Pharmacy
Brett Bennett – Hardee High School
Universal Technical Institute
Automotive Technology
Karleen Cassidy – Palmetto High School
Southeastern University
Elementary Education
Lance Duch
University of Florida
Microbiology and Cell Science
Abby Duke – Hardee High School
South Florida State College
Associate of Arts
Lauren Genewick – Palmetto High School
Florida State University
Biological Sciences
Karson Goodwyn – Hardee High School
Johnson University
Elementary Education
Madison Kahler – Lakewood Ranch High School
Florida State University
Doctor of Dentistry
Connor Keclik – Lakewood Ranch High School
University of Central Florida
Aerospace Engineering
Natalie Novak
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Doctor of Healthcare Administration
Jean Ozit, Jr.
University of Central Florida
Aerospace Engineering
Kelly Rome
Galen College of Nursing
Associate Degree in Nursing
Hayden Ross – Southeast High School
University of Florida
Biomedical Engineering
Hayden Simon – Southeast High School
Carnegie Mellon University
Materials Science