Apply for 2027 Scholarships
West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC) is proud to offer thirteen (13) $1,000 scholarships to graduating 2027 high school seniors in its four-county service area. One scholarship will be awarded to each eligible high school, plus one scholarship for a home-schooled student. The deadline to apply is January 21, 2027 at 5 PM.
Scholarships may be used at any accredited college, university, vocational school, or technical institution.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Parents or legal guardians must be a WFEC member receiving electric service on the cooperative's distribution lines.
- Student must graduate in 2027 from an eligible high school within the WFEC service area or be a home-schooled student residing within the service area.
How to Apply
Complete the application linked above to apply. To be considered, applicants must submit the following by 5:00 p.m. on January 21, 2027.
- A completed scholarship application.
- A 500 -1,000-word essay on the following topic:
Can AI data centers strengthen rural America, or will they place too much strain on rural electric cooperatives?
Artificial intelligence is rapidly increasing the demand for electricity as new AI data centers are built across the United States. Many of these facilities are seeking service from electric cooperatives that have traditionally served rural communities. While some believe data centers bring jobs, investment, and opportunities to modernize the electric grid, others worry they could increase costs, strain infrastructure, and challenge the mission of electric cooperatives.
Write a persuasive essay takin a position on whether electric cooperatives should actively pursue serving data centers. Support your argument with evidence, consider opposing viewpoints, and explain how your position would affect cooperative members, local communities, the environment, and the nation's electric grid.
Things to Remember
- Please do not include your name or any other identifying information within your essay including headers, footers, and page numbers.
- Review the checklist included with the application to ensure your submission is complete and all requirements are met.
Scholarship Awards
Scholarship recipients will be announced in the spring of 2027 and recognized during West Florida Electric Cooperative's 2027 Annual Meeting on April 24, 2027.
Scholarship funds will be paid directly to the post-secondary, vocational, or technical institution.