ELLISVILLE – Twenty-six Jones College students have received $800 in scholarship money from Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association’s Round Up for Education program, which has helped more than 2,000 community college students over the past 12 years. This fall, 185 students in total, throughout Pearl River Valley Electric’s 12-county service area received a financial boost as they begin their school year.
“I am so thankful to all the people that have made the choice to donate to this Scholarship fund, Roundup for Education,” said Jones College freshman, Miranda Barefoot of Sumrall. “It’s going to help me long term, achieve my nursing degree and eventually specialize in labor and delivery to where I can give back to all the people that need it.”
Pearl River Valley Electric’s Round Up for Education program is funded by members who round their bills up to the nearest dollar each month. Scholarships are available to members who participate in the program, as well as for their spouses or dependent children who were enrolled as freshmen this fall.
“I am very appreciative for this opportunity from the community because the change they donate is given back to college students like me, trying to get an education,” said Jones College freshman from Hattiesburg, Sydney Turner who aspires to be a diagnostic medical sonographer.
CEO/General Manager Matthew Ware said he appreciated the dedication of its members who help the electric cooperative do “amazing things” by helping students and building stronger communities.
“Without our members’ support of the scholarship program, we wouldn’t be able to improve the lives of so many students,” said Ware. “Sometimes the smallest gestures, like donating 50 cents a month, can make the biggest impact in our communities. While it may not seem like your spare change can do much, when combined with the generosity of other Pearl River Valley Electric members, you can help change the life of a fellow member while also improving your local community. This program shows how working together can make a big difference – and that is the cooperative way.”
Since the Round Up program began in November 2012, nearly 2.5 million has been collected and deposited in an account overseen by the Pine Belt Foundation. Ten percent of each year’s funds are set aside in an endowed fund for future scholarship opportunities. The remaining money is divided equally between the number of eligible applicants, resulting in 185 scholarships worth $800 per student this year. In the program’s 12 years, 2,354 students received scholarships.
Scholarship recipients this year include 110 students attending Pearl River Community College, 31 at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, and 26 at Jones County Junior College. An additional 18 students are attending six other state community colleges. Overall, students came from 19 different high schools and home school programs.
Round Up for Education funds collected after August 1, go toward next year’s scholarships. Applications for 2025 scholarships will be available beginning this month.