Ohio Students Win $5,350 in Electric Co-op Scholarships

Two students from Ohio's heartland just proved that local opportunities can open doors to something even bigger.

Haley McNaull of Ashland and P.J. Ryan of Lucas both started by winning scholarships from Firelands Electric Cooperative in February. But their stories didn't end there. Both advanced to statewide competitions through Ohio's Electric Cooperatives and walked away with additional awards totaling $5,350.

McNaull, a graduating senior at Ashland High School, originally won $1,800 from her local electric cooperative. When she competed against 23 other students from cooperatives across Ohio, she earned second place and an additional $3,600 scholarship. The daughter of Greg and Julie McNaull plans to study horticulture and crop science at The Ohio State University this fall.

Ryan took a different path but found similar success. Currently enrolled in Stark State College's paramedic to RN bridge program, he first received $1,000 from Firelands Electric. His entry into the statewide Trade School Scholarship contest earned him another $750 to support his healthcare education.

The Ripple Effect

These scholarships represent more than money for tuition. They're part of a deliberate effort by Ohio's electric cooperatives to invest in the communities they serve.

The statewide program awarded $56,100 total to students pursuing everything from four-year degrees to technical certificates. That investment directly addresses Ohio's growing need for skilled workers while helping cooperative families afford higher education.

Electric cooperatives operate differently than investor-owned utilities. They're member-owned, which means the people they serve also own them. When cooperatives award scholarships, they're literally investing their members' resources back into those same families.

Both scholarship tracks serve important needs. The Children of Members program helps students like McNaull pursue traditional degrees. The trade school program supports students like Ryan who are training for high-demand careers that keep communities running.

Ohio faces a critical shortage of healthcare workers and skilled tradespeople. Programs like these create direct pipelines from cooperative communities into careers that serve everyone.

For McNaull and Ryan, winning at the local level gave them a shot at statewide recognition and significantly more funding for their dreams.