2022 Southeast Electric scholarship recipients

Southeast Electric encourages students and members to continue learning. Scholarship funds are a good way to help with this goal. Since 2009 Southeast has awarded over $65,000 worth of scholarships. The cooperative considers it an investment in its future.

Kenzie Tooke, daughter of J.O. & Kim Tooke of Ekalaka, has been awarded the Southeast Electric Essay Scholarship for 2022 in the amount of $1000. Tooke was asked to answer the question "What will you do to continue to support your community in the future?" Her plans are to obtain a major in elementary education and a minor in special education.

"Teachers are heroes in the community," she said. Tooke would like to teach for a few years and then return to Ekalaka. She also would like to serve on a board, such as the weed board, hospital board or even the Southeast Electric Board. She plans to attend college at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota.

The Basin Electric Power Cooperative Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Southeast Electric Cooperative Inc. Darin Schallenberger is the 2022 recipient of this scholarship. Schallenberger was asked "What challenges face rural electric cooperatives in the coming years and how do you think challenges should be addressed?" He feels that the biggest threat to cooperatives are larger corporations. Corporations that will drive costs up and put smaller rural cooperatives into decisions that require them to raise their charges. Schallenberger stated that we need to continue to promote the smaller cooperatives and educate the public about the benefits of cooperatives. His plans are to attend the University of Montana Western to study Business Administration with a focus on Farm and Ranch Operation. He is the son of LeRoy and Jennifer Schallenberger.