CEMC Lineworker Scholarship Program
Offered by Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation
About This Scholarship
Electric cooperatives across the country face a wave of lineworker retirements, and Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (CEMC) has responded the direct way: paying for training. The Tennessee cooperative awards two $2,000 scholarships each year to members or children of members who are pursuing a career as an electric lineworker.
Unlike CEMC's general senior scholarships, which must be used at Tennessee institutions, the lineworker awards can be applied toward program costs at the training institution of the applicant's choice. Lineworker certificate programs typically run several months and cost several thousand dollars in tuition, tools, and climbing gear, so a $2,000 award covers a meaningful share of the total.
The program is open beyond graduating seniors — any CEMC member or child of a member headed into line school can apply — which makes it one of the more accessible utility-trade scholarships in Tennessee for career changers as well as students coming straight out of high school.
Eligibility
- CEMC member or child of a CEMC member (household served by the cooperative in its five-county Middle Tennessee territory)
- Pursuing a career as an electric lineworker
- Award applied toward lineworker program costs at the institution of the applicant's choice
How To Apply
- Complete the Lineworker Scholarship application on CEMC's website under Community Programs and submit it by the February 26, 2027 deadline. Applicants should identify the lineworker training program they plan to attend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be a graduating high school senior to apply?
No. The scholarship is open to CEMC members or children of members pursuing a lineworker career, which includes adults entering line school as a career change.
Can I use the scholarship at any line school?
Yes. CEMC allows the $2,000 award to be applied to lineworker program costs at the institution of the applicant's choice.
How many lineworker scholarships does CEMC award?
Two scholarships of $2,000 each are awarded annually, with applications due in late February.