Blake Ward of South Carolina is one of five people nationally to receive a Glenn English National 
Cooperative Leadership Foundation scholarship this year. Blake, a University of South Carolina history major from Black River Electric Cooperative, received a $1,000 award.
The Foundation was formed in 2013 to commemorate the many years of public service of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's former CEO Glenn English, a tireless advocate for the consumer and for the cooperative business model. The awards go to students who have shown a commitment to one or more of the seven cooperative principles.
In order to be considered, applicants had to meet the following criteria: they participated in NRECA’s Washington Youth Tour and had completed at least one semester at an accredited institution. Full eligibility details are available on NRECA.coop. NRECA evaluated applicants on their GPA, internships, extra-curricular activities, leadership and involvement in the cooperative program.
Cooperatives around the world operate according to a core set of principles. The following seven principles, along with the cooperative purpose of improving quality of life for their members, make electric cooperatives different from other electric utilities:
- Voluntary and open membership
- Democratic member control
- Members’ economic participation
- Autonomy and independence
- Education, training and information
- Cooperation among cooperatives
- Concern for community
Other winners include:
- Sean Southard, a University of Louisville political science and history major from Kenergy in Ky., received the $10,000 award.
- Stephanie Dooper, a University of Louisville Latino studies major from Kenergy in Ky., received a $1,000 award.
- Lexi Slack, a South Dakota State University pre-veterinary medicine major from Southeastern Electric Cooperative in S.D., received a $1,000 award.
- Dustin Toale, a University of Northern Iowa real estate and finance major from East Central Iowa REC, received a $1,000 award.
