REC Community Scholarship Program
Offered by Rappahannock Electric Cooperative
About This Scholarship
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) is one of Virginia's largest electric cooperatives, serving roughly 170,000 connections across 22 counties between the Blue Ridge and the Chesapeake Bay. Its Community Scholarship Program awards seventeen scholarships each year — two at $2,500 and fifteen at $1,000 — to students from member-owner households.
What sets the program apart is its three-track structure. REC reserves awards for high school seniors headed to a college or university, for seniors entering a career or technical school, and for students already enrolled in college. That means current undergraduates are not competing head-to-head with high school seniors, and students choosing a trade path have a dedicated lane rather than an afterthought.
Selection weighs academic achievement, extracurricular activities, community involvement, and letters of recommendation. Because eligibility is tied to REC membership — the parent or guardian's home must take power from the cooperative — the applicant pool is regional, which keeps odds meaningfully better than national competitions of similar dollar value.
Eligibility
- Parent or guardian must be an REC member-owner (household served by Rappahannock Electric Cooperative in Virginia)
- Must plan to enroll in an accredited educational or training institution
- Three award categories: high school seniors attending college/university, high school seniors attending career/technical school, and current college students
- Judged on academics, extracurriculars, community involvement, and recommendations
How To Apply
- Apply through the online application portal linked from REC's scholarship page at myrec.coop/scholarships. The 2027 application period is open now and closes February 27, 2027; have transcripts and letters of recommendation ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can current college students apply, or only high school seniors?
Both. REC sets aside award categories for high school seniors headed to college, seniors headed to career/technical school, and students already enrolled in college.
How much is the REC Community Scholarship worth?
REC awards two $2,500 scholarships and fifteen $1,000 scholarships each year, for seventeen total awards.
Do I have to be an REC member to apply?
Your parent or guardian must be an REC member-owner, meaning the household receives electric service from Rappahannock Electric Cooperative.