CL-Nov/Dec_2024 - 7

CO-OP PEOPLE
in Italian, and
then graduated
in May of 2023
with a Bachelor
of Science in
Interior Design.
Fleshman then
studied for her
master's degree in
Florence, Italy, at the Florence Institute
of Design International. She says,
" Th ere, I was able to refi ne my design
skills and vision through studying fi ner
details, such as lighting and furniture
design. Th e scholarship I received
was instrumental. "
KENDRA OLIVER
Former scholarship recipient Kendra
Oliver loved pretending to be a teacher
as a child. She says, " I've known that
I wanted to be a teacher since I was fi ve
years old. I love being a role model and
helping young
people become
more successful
in life. "
Oliver, a 2023
James Madison
University
graduate, is now
living out her
purpose in the
classroom. " I currently teach social
studies at William Monroe Middle
School in Green County, Va., " the
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative
member says. She expresses gratitude
to the Foundation for the opportunity
to receive a scholarship.
RINA DIRICKSON
A misdiagnosis changed the course
of former scholarship recipient Rina
Dirickson's life. " I was misdiagnosed
with epilepsy and that experience,
combined with my faith in God, led
me into the fi eld of research, " she says.
Dirickson is a sophomore at Johns
Hopkins University with a double
major in neuroscience and biophysics.
co-opliving.com
" During the summer of 2024,
I had the opportunity to work under
Dr. Sridevi Sarma on research that
will hopefully make the diagnosis of
psychogenic non-epileptic attacks
more accurate and less likely to be
misdiagnosed as epilepsy, " she explains.
Dirickson
says she wouldn't
be where she
is now if it
weren't for the
scholarship.
" I cannot wait to
see what the next
three years will
bring, " she says.
PRIYANKA PATEL
Priyanka Patel, a 2023 scholarship
recipient, is involved in cancer
research while attending Virginia
Commonwealth University, where she
majors in chemistry. " Since receiving the
scholarship, I've been able to engage in
a variety of activities to supplement my
higher education, " she says. " Currently,
I am doing various cancer research
studies in both the Department of
Biochemistry at VCU's School of
Medicine and in
the VCU Health
Massey Cancer
Center. "
Patel used
some of the
scholarship
money toward
her National
Emergency
Medical Technician Certifi cation, which
helped her get a job at VCU Health
Trauma Center. " I am so grateful to
VMDAEC for enabling me to partake
in these activities and simultaneously
pursue my higher education, " she says.
GARRETT WEBB
Garrett Webb used his scholarship to
attend Southside Virginia Community
College's Power Line Worker Training
School. " During
my time at
SVCC, I made
some friends
and I learned
from some very
outstanding
instructors that
taught me the
fundamentals, good techniques and
essential information for a career in
linework, " he says. Of the 1,162 students
awarded scholarships, 91 used their
scholarships for lineworker training.
" Seeing our scholarship recipients
playing important roles in our
communities - along with those who
are having a positive impact on others
while pursuing their education -
is another reason for donating to the
VMDAEC Education Scholarship
Foundation, " says Brian Mosier,
President & CEO of VMDAEC.
According to Brumberg, the
Foundation's license plate program
is a consistent source of funding.
" Th e license plate program is an easy
way that Cooperative Living readers
can donate automatically every year.
When you register your license plate
or personalized plate with the Virginia
DMV, the Education Scholarship
Foundation gets a portion of your
vehicle registration fee each year. It's
also a great way to recognize the
important work lineworkers do, "
Brumberg explains.
Rusty Brown, a director at
Northern Neck Electric Cooperative
who has served on the Foundation
board since the beginning, says,
" I believe we need to do all we can
for our youth. Every little bit helps
when you're paying for a college
education. "
*
Scan this code for
more information
about the Foundation
or to register your
license plate.
November-December 2024 * Cooperative Living * 5
https://vmdaec.com/scholarshipfoundation/ http://www.co-opliving.com
CL-Nov/Dec_2024

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