Arrington, VA - The Education Scholarship Foundation of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC) announced that it has reached a $1,000,000 milestone in awarding college scholarships to deserving students. The Education Scholarship Foundation awarded scholarships to four Central Virginia high school seniors, and the 2025 recipients are:
- Kayleigh Heiston of Orange County High School received the Worth M. Hudson Award in the amount of $2,500. Kayleigh plans to attend James Madison University, where she will major in Nursing with a goal of becoming a Nurse Anesthetist or Labor and Delivery Nurse. The daughter of Michael and Jennifer Heiston, she is a member of the National Honor Society and Blue Ridge Virginia Governor’s School. Kayleigh also serves as an officer of her school spirit club, is the captain of the varsity lacrosse team, and is an active member of her church.
- Elisabeth Berglund of The Covenant School received the Worth M. Hudson Award in the amount of $2,000. She has committed to attending Baylor University this fall, where she plans to double major in finance and professional sales, with a minor in legal studies. After completing her undergraduate studies, Elisabeth aspires to attend UVA Law and pursue a career as a corporate or family attorney. She is the daughter of Katie and William Berglund and during her high school career, she was actively involved in her school’s Community Service Club, baking club, and Young Americans for Freedom chapter, where she helped lead fundraisers, organize supply drives, and participate in hands-on service projects. She also served as a childcare volunteer and plant caretaker at The Point Church, where she demonstrated her commitment to service and community support.
- Dustin Brown of Goochland County High School received a Worth M. Hudson Award in the amount of $1,500. He will attend James Madison University as a double major in Computer Science and Mathematics, with aspirations of becoming a game designer. Dustin is the son of Barry and Sharon Brown and is a well-rounded student leader. He is an Eagle Scout, a member of the Junkyard Dogs Robotics Team, captain of the GHS Cross Country Team, a volunteer at the Goochland Animal Shelter, and a member of the Outdoor Track Team.
The scholarships are named in honor of Worth Hudson, the first chairman of the VMDAEC Education Scholarship Foundation Board and former chairman of the board of directors of Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative in Chase City, Va.
Finally, the Foundation’s highest award, the Roberta I. Harlowe Scholarship, in the amount of $3,000, was awarded to a Central Virginia Electric Cooperative student. Roberta Harlowe and her husband, Bill, made a historic donation to the Foundation, starting the Foundation’s first endowment fund to secure the foundation’s future for generations to come. Over $50,000 has been endowed by Mr. and Mrs. Harlowe and set aside to provide a permanent financial foundation for the Association’s charitable works.
The Roberta I. Harlowe Scholarship is named for the past chair of the scholarship fund who is also a former member and current Ambassador of the CVEC board of directors. This year’s scholarship of $3,000 was awarded to:
- Piper LaRochelle, a senior at Fluvanna County High School, earned the Roberta I. Harlowe Award. Piper will attend Oklahoma State University to study Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, with the dream of designing aircraft. The daughter of Bridget and Dave LaRochelle, she is ranked in the top five at her school and is deeply involved in service and leadership. She serves as president of the Beta Club, leads school tutoring initiatives, and partners with Caring for Creatures to support animal adoption. Piper also represents the Fluco Club, captains the Varsity Girls Soccer Team, and helped lead her school to its first-ever regional and state appearance for girls soccer. She has earned numerous athletic honors, organized team fundraisers, and led injury prevention clinics for young athletes in the community.
These four high school seniors were eligible for consideration because their parents are consumer-members of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative.
“The fifth cooperative principle is Education, Training and Information. With these scholarships, we stand behind this important principle to support, train, educate, and empower the next generation of electric cooperative leaders,” said Brian S. Mosier, president and CEO of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives. “Scholarships that can be used for higher education or trade school build our communities and our society.”
Scholarship recipients are chosen based on a competitive screening process that considers financial need (40%), academic achievement (40%) and community involvement and personal history (20%). Applicants must be graduating seniors from either high school or homeschool in the year during which they apply. They must also provide evidence of their acceptance into a post-high school educational institution or program. Scholarships can be used to pay for tuition, fees, and books.
The Foundation is funded through tax-deductible donations and bequests from individuals, proceeds from fundraising events and CoBank’s Sharing Success Program. For information on donating to the Foundation, please visit https://vmdaec.com/scholarshipfoundation/.
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Headquartered in Glen Allen, Va., the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives provides safety and training, communications, regulatory, and legislative services to 16 electric cooperatives serving the three-state Mid-Atlantic region. For more information on VMDAEC and the scholarship program, visit www.vmdaec.com or www.co-opliving.com.
Central Virginia Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit, electric utility serving 39,000 homes, farms and businesses in the rural portions of 14 Virginia counties. CVEC connects its members and communities through reliable power and broadband services, delivering world-class, high-speed internet service through its subsidiary, Firefly Fiber Broadband. CVEC and its subsidiary are equal opportunity providers and employers. For more information, visit www.mycvec.com.