Cooperative Selects 25 Recipients for $2,000 to $7,500 Awards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(JOHNSON CITY, Texas) May 11, 2026 — Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) has awarded $100,000 in scholarships to 25 graduating high school students across its service area. Recipients can use their scholarship for tuition at the college, university, technical or trade school of their choice. Students were selected from more than 460 applicants with scholarship awards ranging from $2,000 to $7,500.
“We are committed to providing opportunities and education that help our communities thrive,” said Community Outreach Specialist Mikayla Herron. “PEC is proud to award these scholarships and play a role in shaping these students’ futures to help them reach their goals and dreams.”
This year, scholarship recipients and their families were honored at a reception, April 20, at EVO Entertainment Belterra in Austin.
“I’m beyond grateful and so moved by the generosity of this scholarship,” said recipient Ava Schlotterbeck, a senior at Moe and Gene Johnson High School. “PEC will forever be part of my college journey, and I just cannot say thank you enough!”
Here are this year’s scholarship recipients (asterisk indicates a trade school scholarship):
- Anna Carpenter, Westwood High School
- Elizabeth Chaison, Leander High School
- Kaitlin Cheng, McNeil High School
- Anna Edwards, Cedar Park High School
- Caleb Eilers, Veritas Academy*
- Preslee Faris, Blanco High School*
- Stephanie Gearing, Vista Ridge High School
- Andrew Houy, Faith Academy of Marble Falls*
- Ally Hunsicker, Dripping Springs High School
- Mahi Jain, Rouse High School
- Peyton Johnson, Dripping Springs High School
- DeAnna Jorde, Liberty Hill High School
- Samuel “Miles” Kanetzky, Florence High School
- Gage Keeton, Marble Falls High School*
- Ava Maldonado, San Marcos High School
- Joshua Marks, Wimberley High School
- Abigail McCord, Vista Ridge High School
- Ava Schlotterbeck, Moe and Gene Johnson High School
- Grant Simon, Junction High School
- Saisha Siram, Westwood High School
- Josephine Sun, Westwood High School
- Jessica Wadle, Canyon Lake High School
- Timothy Walbeck, Canyon Lake High School
- Tricia Carson-Walker, Georgetown High School
- Corbin Willis, Wimberley High School
PEC scholarships are made possible through unclaimed funds returned from the state.
PEC is committed to supporting its members and investing in the future of young students by providing education and youth programs that benefit students across its service area. Since 1999, PEC has awarded more than $1.7 million in scholarships to more than 900 students. PEC serves members and students in 23 school districts and approximately 34 public high schools.
In addition to providing scholarships, PEC offers a variety of free youth education programs, including school visits and career exploration, PEC’s Youth Tour to learn about government in action, and online learning materials to help students access career information and learn how to build resumes.
Students can find additional details online at myPEC.com/scholarships.
