Thomas H. Moore IEC Memorial Scholarship
Offered by Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives
About This Scholarship
The Thomas H. Moore IEC Memorial Scholarship Fund is run by the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives, the statewide trade association for Illinois's electric co-ops, and it is one of the larger utility-association scholarship programs in the Midwest: nineteen $3,000 scholarships are awarded each year. Eighteen go to sons and daughters of Illinois electric cooperative members, and one — the Earl W. Struck Memorial Scholarship — goes to a son or daughter of a cooperative employee or director, a category that includes the children of the lineworkers who keep rural Illinois energized.
The awards are split by where you can use them: twelve can be applied at any accredited college, university, or vocational-technical school in the United States, while six are reserved for students attending an Illinois community college. That vocational-technical option matters for trade-bound students — this is not a four-year-only program.
Applicants must be high school seniors, and the parent must be receiving service from the cooperative when the application is submitted. Selection weighs GPA, test scores, work and volunteer experience, activities, a biographical statement, a character essay, and a short essay demonstrating knowledge of electric cooperatives. One unusual rule: AIEC explicitly prohibits the use of AI writing tools on the application, and the online application must be completed in a single sitting. The current deadline is December 31, 2026.
Eligibility
- High school senior
- Son or daughter of an Illinois electric cooperative member currently receiving service (18 awards), or of an Illinois cooperative employee or director (1 Earl W. Struck Memorial award)
- Plan to enroll full time (12+ hours) at an accredited college, university, or vocational-technical school; 6 of the 19 awards are restricted to Illinois community colleges
- May apply through only one cooperative; essays must be written without AI or other writing tools
How To Apply
- Confirm your family's Illinois electric cooperative membership (or employee/director connection)
- Gather your GPA (converted to a 100-point scale), test scores, work and activity history, and financial information before starting — the online application must be completed in one sitting
- Prepare your biographical statement, financial statement, and two 500-word essays (community involvement with your cooperative, and personal impact)
- Submit the online application on aiec.coop by December 31, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this scholarship at a trade school?
Yes. Twelve of the nineteen awards can be used at any accredited college, university, or vocational-technical school in the U.S., and six are designated for Illinois community colleges, which include lineworker and other technical programs.
Who qualifies for the Earl W. Struck Memorial Scholarship?
One of the nineteen awards is set aside for a son or daughter of an Illinois electric cooperative employee or director, rather than a co-op member. You apply through the same IEC Memorial Scholarship application.
Is the scholarship renewable?
No. Awards are one-year, non-renewable $3,000 scholarships, though the program runs annually with a December 31 deadline each cycle.