The North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) has awarded scholarships to 20 high school graduates through its Operation Round-Up program, according to NAEC officials. Seventeen students will receive one-time scholarships of $1,000 each, while three students—Hunter Belvedresi of Viola, Marley Rohr of Melbourne, and Laura Smeltzer of Mountain Home—have been selected to receive $1,000 annually for up to four years to support their college education.
This year's recipients include Allison Stone, Jackson Taylor, Mary Ella Polston, and Rose Keen of Salem; Jackson Corp, Caden DelSoto, Olivia Foness, Deanna Human, Avery Gutherie, Hannah Perdue, and Kylee Roberts of Mountain Home; Brandon Wilbur and Anna Keller of Norfork; Haley Ransay, Gale Gerundiano, and Owen Hyslip of Highland; and Ora Love of Melbourne.
The scholarships are funded through the Operation Round-Up program, which allows NAEC members to round up their monthly electric bills to the nearest dollar. The extra funds are pooled to support scholarships, grants for community organizations, and disaster relief. Since the program’s inception, nearly $286,000 has been distributed to benefit the community, according to the cooperative.
High school seniors who wish to apply for future scholarships can do so starting February 1, 2027. Tori Moss of NAEC noted that the application process is straightforward, with forms available on the cooperative’s website at naeci.com and through high school counselors.
NAEC encourages its members to contribute to the program by enrolling their accounts in Operation Round-Up. Interested individuals can sign up by contacting the cooperative at 870-895-3221, visiting naeci.com, or stopping by any NAEC office.