Time is running out for high school seniors to apply for the Thomas H. Moore Illinois Electric Cooperatives (IEC) Memorial Scholarships. A total of $51,000 in scholarship funds is available — but the Dec. 31, 2025 deadline is fast approaching.
Seventeen academic scholarships, each worth $3,000, will be awarded in 2026 to assist students connected to the electric cooperative community.
Ten scholarships will go to high school seniors whose parents are Illinois electric co-op members. Five scholarships are reserved for students enrolling full-time at a two-year Illinois community college whose parents are Illinois electric cooperative members or employees. The Earl W. Struck Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a student who is the child of an Illinois electric cooperative employee or director.
In addition, the LaVern and Nola McEntire Memorial Lineworker’s Scholarship provides financial assistance to attend lineworker school conducted by the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives in conjunction with Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield. The deadline to apply for this scholarship is April 30, 2026. Apply at aiec.coop/lavern-and-nola-lineworkers-scholarship.
Applicants are evaluated on academic achievements, work and volunteer experience, and community involvement. Strong, creative essay responses can make all the difference.
Since its start in 1996, the IEC Memorial Scholarship Program has grown from awarding two $1,000 scholarships to now offering 17 scholarships worth $3,000 each. The program is administered by the Illinois Community College System Foundation (ICCSF).
If you’re eligible, don’t wait — apply today. This is your final opportunity to take advantage of this generous scholarship program. To apply or learn more, go to aiec.coop/iec-scholarship or contact your local electric cooperative.
