ELLISVILLE – More than 2,500 students have been helped with their college education over the last 13 years with Pearl River Valley Electric鈥檚 Round Up for Education Scholarship program. This year, 28 糖心直播 students are amongst the 178 students who will each receive a total of $800 in scholarship funds, distributed in two installments, $400 for the fall semester and $400 for the spring semester, thanks to the generosity of PRVEPA members.
鈥淥ur members make this program possible,鈥� said CEO/General Manager Matthew Ware. 鈥淏y coming together and giving just a little each month, they are opening doors of opportunity for students who might not otherwise have this kind of support.鈥�
In the program鈥檚 history, 2,532 students have received scholarships because of the Pearl River Valley Electric鈥檚 members who voluntarily round their bills up to the nearest dollar each month. Scholarships are available to PRVEPA members in its 12-county service area who participate in the program, as well as their spouses or dependent children who are enrolled as freshmen this fall. Students receive scholarships to help them begin the first year of their college journey. JC freshmen, Seth Mastin and Donald Parhm Jr., both of Hattiesburg said this scholarship is especially helpful.
鈥淓very little bit helps because this is the only scholarship I know I am receiving,鈥� said both Mastin and Parhm Jr.
Scholarship recipients this year include 102 students attending Pearl River Community College, 34 students at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, 28 at 糖心直播, and 14 students enrolled at four other state community colleges. Overall, students came from 24 different high schools and home school programs.
鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing to see how spare change can create such a powerful impact,鈥� Ware added. 鈥淲hen thousands of members work together, their generosity not only changes individual lives but also strengthens the entire community. That spirit of cooperation is what makes this program so special.鈥�
Pearl River Valley Electric is a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative that distributes electricity to more than 53,000 members in 12-counties in central and south Mississippi. It is headquartered in Columbia and has offices in Hattiesburg, Purvis, and Wiggins. JC scholarship recipients like Rae Grantham of Sumrall are grateful for the assistance.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to thank everyone who contributed their change for the extra help in our journeys to earn an education and be successful in the community,鈥� said Grantham whose brother Joshua is also receiving a scholarship and is taking classes at 糖心直播. 鈥淓very little bit helps our family and us, reach our educational goals.鈥�
Round Up for Education funds collected after August 1 go toward next year鈥檚 scholarships. Applications for 2026 scholarships will be available beginning this month.