Youth Tour & Scholarships

South River EMC understands the importance of taking care of our kids. We strive to offer benefits to the children of our community in order to secure a brighter tomorrow.

Rural Electric Youth Tour

This summer three rising seniors will take advantage of some great adventures, on behalf of South River EMC. These students will join a delegation of North Carolina students in Washington DC this summer as part of the Rural Electric Youth Tour. The Youth Tour involves more than 1500 students representing electric cooperatives from across the nation. Each year, South River EMC offers this opportunity to area students to be a part of the unforgettable Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington DC.

While in Washington DC, the North Carolina contingent will join electric cooperative representatives from throughout the United States for a week of fun and learning. During the week, the youth tourists visit the sites of Washington DC including all the monuments, the Smithsonian and more. The students will take a boat trip down the Potomac River, attend an All States Dance, and participate in Youth Day, where they will learn more about America's electric cooperatives. They also will have the chance to meet with their congressmen and to learn more about how our government works and current events facing congress.

North Carolina's students establish a Soda Pop Co-op to provide a supply of affordable drinks while in Washington DC. Each student pays $1 to become a member of the cooperative. A board of directors is appointed and they hire a manager and assistant manager. At the end of the trip, the cooperative is dissolved and each student is refunded their membership fee and their capital credits.

In 2007 , South River EMC was represented by Elliot McNeill from Western Harnett High School, Rebecca Crumpler and Morgan Sills both from Midway High School. This year, South River EMC will be represented by Corey Harding from Cape Fear High School, Georgianna Honeycutt from Midway High School and Hannah Speight from West Johnston High School.

Each year, the students return with many interesting stories and memories to last a lifetime. For more information about the Rural Electric Youth Tour, call Catherine O'Dell at 892-8071 or send an e-mail to codell@sremc.com.

For more information on the Rural Electric Youth Tour visit the official National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Tour site.

Scholarships

Gwen B. Price and Katie Bunch Scholarships

Students attending the Rural Electric Youth Tour are eligible to win the $2500 Gwen B. Price Scholarship and the $2000 Katie Bunch Memorial Scholarship. These scholarships are awarded annually at the North Carolina Electric Cooperative's Annual Meeting of Members in Raleigh.

These scholarships were established by the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives Volunteers' Committee to aid young people who have limited financial resources and have exhibited outstanding scholastic and leadership abilities in their quest for a college education.

Power Source Volunteer Scholarships

The Power Source Volunteers, or PSV, offer six college scholarships for South River EMC members and their children. In April, 2008 the PSV awarded one $1,000 scholarship to Kyle Smith from Hope Mills who attends Gray's Creek High School. Kyle plans to attend UNC-CH and major in pre-medicine. Five students each will receive a $500 scholarship. These students are: Brittney Harris, daughter of Norman and Diana Harris of Hope Mills; Jacquelyn Lacey, daughter of Robert and Melissa Lacey of Hope Mills; Tiffany Williams, daughter of Donna Williams of Autryville; Maria Rose or Clinton; and Regina Galloway, daughter of Thomas and Rye Galloway of Spring Lake.

Factors considered in granting scholarships included: character, moral standards, citizenship, past and present academic performance, letters of recommendation, statements of career goals and qualifications and extra-curricular activities.

The following stipulations are required of applicants:

Must live in a home, which receives electric service from South River EMC.
A candidate must have a recommendation from either his or her high school principal, guidance counselor or teacher. Non-traditional students or transfers must provide a letter from their work supervisor or community college advisor.
The application period for the 2008 scholarships has passed. Please try again next year.

The scholarship committee of the Power Source Volunteers will coordinate the scholarship applications and qualifications. A third party committee representing the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation will determine final recipients.

Applications for the 2009 scholarships willl be accepted in January.