One more.
That’s what made this year’s presentation of Power Play Scholarship Association (PPSA) awards just a bit unusual compared to those previous. In typical years, the PPSA awards $4,000 scholarships to each of 30 college-bound high-school seniors who are dependents of TVPPA-member utility employees.
This year was different, though – the PPSA made 31 such awards, with the money for that 31st scholarship coming from contributions made in honor of Robert Bettis, the veteran general manager at Sweetwater, TN, UB. Long a pillar of the PPSA, Bettis passed away in January 2017.
“I can’t think of a more fitting way for Robert to be honored,” said TVA executive Michael Scalf, who presided at the April 25 awards luncheon in Murfreesboro, TN. “I’m quite sure he’d be very pleased.”
The Power Play Scholarship Association’s 2017 awards went to:
Richard C. Campbell (representing Cullman EC, Cullman, AL)
Sydney N. Corum (Cleveland, TN, Utilities)
Samuel P. Cundiff (Russellville, AL, EPB)
Carter J. Ferrell (Jackson, TN, EA)
Victoria K. Garland (Elizabethton, TN, ED)
Zachary L. Girard (Gibson EMC, Trenton, TN)
Dallas T. Griffith (Lafollette, TN, Utilities)
Emma G. Heck (Nashville, TN, ES)
Baylee H. Howard (Alcorn Co. EPA, Corinth, MS)
Brittany M. Hubbard (Sheffield, AL, Utilities)
William Brady Hunt (4-County EPA, Columbus, MS)
Hailey C. Jamison (Central EPA, Carthage, MS)
Miranda Makayla Lindsey (Alcoa, TN, ED)
Rylan C. Lorance (Caney Fork EC, McMinnville, TN)
Nicolas C. McConnell (Blue Ridge Mountain EMC, Young Harris, GA)
Caleb Austin Moates (Etowah, TN, Utilities)
Micah V. Morgan (Philadelphia, MS, Utilities)
Sydney S. Rhoton (Johnson City, TN, PB)
Shannon R. Sharp (Memphis, TN, LG & W)
Ethan W. Sheridan (West Kentucky RECC, Mayfield, KY)
Jonathan P. Sloan (East Mississippi EPA, Meridian, MS)
Dakota B. Steadman (Joe Wheeler EMC, Trinity, AL)
Ethan Todd Taylor (Tri-State EMC, McCaysville, GA)
Morgan L. Thomason (Tri-County EMC, Lafayette, TN)
Lennon C. Tomlinson (Southwest Tennessee EMC, Brownsville, TN)
Cassie A. Vaughn (Bowling Green, KY, MU)
Wyatt P. Walton (Meriwether Lewis EC, Centerville, TN)
Miles H. Wilbur (CDE Lightband, Clarksville, TN)
Dylan G. Williams (Hickman, KY, ES)
Emma B. Willis (Lawrenceburg, TN, US)
Rudi E. Wimberley (Paris, TN, BPU)
Including the 2017 awards, the Power Play Scholarship Association has made 548 awards, totaling more than $2.1 million, to recipients since its 1995 establishment.
Since 2010, there has been an additional award, the Johnny Hayes Memorial Scholarship, which goes to a student who consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to excellence in academics, leadership and community service. It honors the late TVA Director Johnny Hayes, who launched the scholarship program. The 2017 Hayes award went to Baylee Howard of Corinth, MS.
Recipients are chosen by an eight-member selection team of educators from colleges and universities in the seven states of the Tennessee Valley, and are selected based on academic achievement, standardized test scores, leadership qualities, letters of recommendation and written essays. The funds are raised through PPSA membership fees, contributions from TVA and vendors and the annual Power Play Golf Tournament.