JCE Co-op Scholarship Program
In support of students from our service territory who choose to continue their education, JCE Co-op has the JCE Scholarship Program. The cooperative offers five different scholarships to help support our youth, area students and communities. We encourage area students to apply for these scholarships.
Our scholarships include:
- Up to six $1000 JCE Co-op Scholarships are awarded each year to outstanding scholastic students who are the sons or daughters of JCE Co-op members. Two scholarships will be awarded in both Carroll and Jo Daviess counties, and one scholarship will be awarded in both Whiteside and Henry counties. Scholarships are awarded based on grade point average, college entrance test scores, work and volunteer experience, participation in school and community activities, biographical statement and knowledge of the cooperative. Deadline March 1, 2025.
- Up to four $1,000 Two-year/Technical School Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each. Similar to the JCE Scholarships, these awards go to outstanding scholastic students who are high school seniors and sons or daughters of JCE Co-op members but who plan to attend a two-year college or technical program. One scholarships is awarded in each of the counties the cooperative serves including Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside and Henry. Scholarships are awarded based on grade point average, college entrance exam scores, work and volunteer experience, participation in school and community activities, and two short essay statements. Deadline March 1, 2025.
- Up to two Lineworker Scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each. These scholarships are awarded to students who plan to attend a lineworker school. Applicants or their parent/legal guardian must be a cooperative members. Scholarships are awarded based on academic transcripts, school and community activities and a statement outlining career goals and why the student is interested in becoming an electric lineworker. Deadline March 1, 2025.
- Up to four Adult/Nontraditional Student Scholarships in the amount of $1,500 each. Applicants must be a current JCE Co-op member in good standing and must have his or her name on an active account. These scholarships will go to cooperative members who are returning to school or will attend a post-secondary or accredited training program for the first time. Applicants must be accepted to an accredited post-secondary school or program that would lead to their first degree, certification or licensure. Scholarships are awarded based on letters of reference and a statement about the student's academic pursuits including their educational and career goals and how the cooperative services including Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside and Henry. (This scholarship is not intended for students who have graduated from college within the past four years.) Deadline March 1, 2025.
- Ten Director's Scholarships in the amount of $500 to be awarded by drawings at the cooperative's Annual Meeting of Members (TBD). One scholarships is awarded in each of the counties anna. Students who receive another scholarship from JCE Co-op are not eligible to receive a Director's Scholarship. Deadline May 1, 2025.
Funding for all JCE Co-op scholarships comes from unclaimed and donated capital credits.
IEC Scholarships
Each year Illinois electric cooperatives award 17 scholarships to assist students in the electric cooperative family across the state.
Awarded through the Thomas H. Moore Illinois Electric Cooperatives Memorial Scholarship Program, the 17 scholarships are worth $2,000 each. General scholarship application deadline is Dec. 31, 2025.
- Ten scholarships are awarded to high school seniors whose parents are an Illinois electric co-op member receiving service from the cooperative.
- Five scholarships are reserved for high school students enrolling full-time at a two-year Illinois community college and whose parents are Illinois electric cooperative members, employees or directors.
- One scholarship, the Earl W. Struck Memorial Scholarship, is awarded to a student who is the child of an Illinois electric cooperative employee or director.
- One scholarship, the LaVern and Nola McEntire Lineworker's Scholarship, is awarded to a student to attend the lineworker school conducted by the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives in conjunction with Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield. Children of co-op members, relatives of co-op employees or directors and individuals who have served or are serving in the armed forces or National Guard are eligible for this scholarship. Deadline for the Lineworker's Scholarship is April 30, 2025.
Visit the IEC Memorial Scholarships page for information and application.