DURANGO, Colo. – Recipients of the 2008/2009 LPEA/Fort Lewis College, John Voelker Memorial, Basin Electric Power Cooperative and the Tri-State Generation & Transmission scholarships have been announced by La Plata Electric Association (LPEA).

Savannah Pearson, 2008 graduate of Ignacio High School, and daughter of Jennifer and Clyde Pearson of Ignacio, has been awarded the 24th Annual LPEA/Fort Lewis College Scholarship, a complete, four-year scholarship.

Tamara Gayhart, 2008 graduate of Pagosa Springs High School, and daughter of Angie and Ken Gayhart of Pagosa Springs, has been awarded LPEA’s John Voelker Memorial Scholarship for vocational, technical school or junior college.

Caleb Flint, 2008 graduate of Bayfield High School, and son of Jayne and Jim Flint of Bayfield, was awarded the $1,000 Basin Electric Power Cooperative Scholarship.

Jordan Hardy, 2008 graduate from Bayfield High School, and daughter of Monna and Garth Hardy of Bayfield, and Caitlin Hickey, 2008 graduate from Durango High School, and daughter of Camerine and Mike Hickey of Durango, each received $500 scholarships from Tri-State Generation & Transmission. 

“The students just get more accomplished and amazing every year,” said Jeannie Bennett, coordinator of LPEA’s scholarship process. “All the scholarship recipients this year are tremendous students with great potential. At LPEA we are proud to be able to offer these educational opportunities to help build for the future.”

Scholarships are awarded annually, selected by a volunteer committee representing communities within LPEA’s service territory – Durango, Bayfield, Ignacio and Pagosa Springs.

In addition to their financial awards, scholarship recipients have opportunity to attend the week-long La Plata Electric Summer Leadership Camp. Scholarship winners are also required to attend the LPEA Annual Meeting, this year scheduled for Sept. 13, as well as attend a regularly scheduled LPEA board meeting to meet with and personally thank the directors.

For further information or questions regarding future scholarship opportunities, contact Bennett at 970.382.3505, or jbennett@lpea.coop.

Savannah Pearson

24^th annual LPEA/Fort Lewis College (FLC) scholarship

A 2008 graduate from Ignacio High School, and the daughter of Jennifer and Clyde Pearson of Ignacio, Savannah will graduate with a 4.0 GPA and as one of the top three academic achievers of her class. She is currently “fast tracking” at Fort Lewis College and plans to graduate with a degree in Early Childhood Education, plus an English as a Second Language endorsement.

Savannah’s great grandparents came to Southwest Colorado in the 1870s, making her a fifth generation resident of the region. In addition to starring on the Ignacio High School girls soccer team, she has been active and held leadership positions in Future Farmers of America, National Honor Society, Student Government, volleyball, basketball and Winter Sports Club. She has also been a Girl Scout for 12 years, earning most of the available merit badges, including both the Bronze and Silver Awards.

An active participant in Oxford Grange activities and meetings since childhood, Savannah is currently serving as the Ignacio High School wrestling manager, enabling her to travel and cheer on her younger brother, Ethan as he competes to participate in the state wrestling finals in Denver.

Savannah aspires to eventually open her own child care center in Southwest Colorado, noting, “I have been babysitting since I was 13 years of age and I have seen the struggles of many hard working parents I their search for a good quality, reliable day care provider. I believe I can fill a much needed gap I the child care field in La Plata County.”

The LPEA/FLC scholarship, which is awarded annually, provides tuition, books and fees for all four years at FLC.

Tamara Gayhart

LPEA John Voelker Memorial Scholarship for Vocational, Technical School or Junior College

A 2008 graduate of Pagosa Springs High School, Tamara Gayhart is the daughter of Angie and Ken Gayhart of Pagosa Springs. She is graduating with a cumulative GPA of 2.778, and plans to pursue an Associate Business Degree at Colorado Mountain College in Glenwood Springs, Colo.

Gifted in athletics, Tamara has participated in high school volleyball, track & field and basketball, most recently serving as team captain of Pagosa’s girls Varsity team. She also broke the Pagosa High School record in track/high jump during her freshman year, as well as the school record in basketball rebounds her senior year. She enjoys all of the outdoor activities Pagosa has to offer, including hunting, horse pack trips, hiking, fishing, skiing and snowmobiling and more.

Tamara, who has achieved the Parelli Natural Horsemanship Level 2, has also been crowned Archuleta County Fair Princess and Red Ryder Rodeo Princess. Out of 225 girls in the Colorado Miss Teen Pageant Denver, she placed 3^rd.

Noted Tamara, “Pagosa is growing very fast, and I think it is very important we have educated people to smartly plan for the future of Pagosa Springs. I would be honored to someday be a part of that. It takes all of us as a team to contribute and bring new ideas to the table and eventually the problems will be worked out.”

Tamara is the eighth recipient of LPEA’s John Voelker Memorial Scholarship, named after LPEA board member John Voelker, who was instrumental in creating the scholarship that awards up to $3,000 per year to students planning to attend a vocational, technical school or junior college. Voelker perished in the Egyptian Air plane crash in October of 1999.

Caleb Flint

$1,000 Basin Electric Power Cooperative scholarship

A 2008 graduate of Bayfield High School, Caleb is the son of Jayne and Jim Flint of Bayfield. Graduating with a 4.0 GPA, he plans to attend Brigham Young University in the fall, pursuing a degree in International Business.

A natural leader, Caleb has served in various leadership positions throughout his high school career, including student body president for two years. He has earned his Eagle Scout Award, following completion of more than 100 community service, and has, for two years, qualified for the All State Band, this year securing 1^st Chair Trumpet for the State of Colorado.

As a member of the National Honor Society, Caleb has completed several service projects, including work with Project Merry Christmas. A four year participant in the Knowledge Bowl, Caleb’s team this year took 4^th in the state.

Caleb is also passionate about athletics, participating in cross country and track as well as basketball during his high school years.

With an eye on a post-graduate degree in law, Caleb explained, “This will allow me to fulfill my career goal of helping others in underprivileged countries by providing jobs.”

Jordan Hardy

$500 Tri-State Generation & Transmission scholarship

A 2008 graduating senior from Bayfield High School, Jordan is the daughter of Monna and Garth Hardy of Bayfield. She will attend the University of Colorado Boulder in the fall.

Diagnosed at birth with Cerebral Palsy, Jordan has not allowed the neurological disability to dissuade her from her dreams and goals – the most immediate of which is to become a teacher.

Graduating with a cumulative 3.78 GPA, Jordan has proved successful in academics as well as athletics. Her accomplishments include National Honor Society vice president, Varsity Knowledge Bowl team captain and Varsity volleyball team captain. She has taught vacation Bible School at the Calvary Presbyterian Church, served as a Project Merry Christmas volunteer and participated as a fundraising volunteer for the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

“I am still learning to accept all the qualities that make up who I am,” said Jordan. “I am a klutz who dreams of being graceful. I am loud when I should be quiet, or silent when I should speak up… However, I take those inadequacies and learn.”

Caitlin Hickey

$500 Tri-State Generation & Transmission scholarship

A 2008 graduating senior from Durango High School, and daughter of Camerine and Mike Hickey of Durango, Caitlin will pursue a Business/Finance degree at the University of Tulsa, and plans to follow that with a JD (law) degree, leading to trial work at the state and federal level.

To graduate with a 4.2 GPA, Caitlin, who also has a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, has participated during her high school years in the National Honor Society, student government, debate, Teen Court and more. She has also received academic awards for her skills in pre-calculus and trigonometry.

Noting that she enjoys helping people, Caitlin explained, “I see the law profession as a way of continuing that interest. For the past twelve years I have devoted my life to my education so that I could go to a great college and get a great education.”

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