Scholarships

Each year, high school seniors have the opportunity to receive scholarships to continue their education. Our scholarship program is available to any graduating high school senior whose parent or legal guardian is a member of Riverland Energy Cooperative. The scholarship funds can be used at a four-year or two-year college, as well as technical or trade schools.

Eligibility requirements:

The applicant's parent or legal guardians must be an active member and resident of Riverland Energy Cooperative. An account number must be provided.

The applicant or the applicant's parent or legal guardian must be present at Riverland Energy's annual meeting on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at the Arcadia High School. A free breakfast will be served from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. The meeting will start at 10:00 a.m.

Updated in Nov. 2025 - Non-traditional scholarship recipients will be chosen by a random drawing, the same way as traditional scholarships - they MUST be present at the Annual Meeting.

The deadline for scholarship applications is March 20, 2026.

Scholarship Funding

Riverland Energy is owned by its members and guided by a nonprofit, cooperative philosophy. When the cooperative makes money beyond expenses, the difference is refunded to eligible members as capital credits. The scholarships are funded with unclaimed capital credit dollars and do not affect electric rates.

At-Large Scholarship Application Traditional Scholarship Application

Traditional Scholarship:

Two $1,000 scholarships per school will be available to eligible students who attend a high school in the cooperative’s service territory. Scholarships are available to qualified high school seniors attending the following schools: Alma, Arcadia, Blair-Taylor, Cochrane-Fountain City, Durand, Eleva-Strum Central, Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau, Gilmanton, Holmen, Independence, Mondovi, Onalaska, Osseo-Fairchild, and Whitehall.

At-Large Scholarship:

Two $1,000 at-large scholarships are available to eligible students who do not attend a high school in the cooperative’s territory, but reside in the cooperative’s service territory and whose parent(s)/legal guardian(s) are bona fide residents of Riverland Energy. Schools include: La Crosse Aquinas, Onalaska Luther, La Crosse Logan, La Crosse Central, West Salem, La Crescent, Winona, Winona Cotter, Coulee Region Christian, Melrose-Mindoro, Eau Claire Regis, Eau Claire Memorial, Eau Claire Bethel Christian, Eau Claire Emmanuel, Eau Claire North, Black River Falls, and Altoona. Students from other schools, online/virtual schools, or home school may also be eligible.

Luck of the Draw Scholarship:

One $5,000 scholarship will be selected in a random drawing out of all of the applicants for a “Luck of the Draw” scholarship.

Eligibility Requirements

Current high school seniors whose parents (s) or legal guardian (s) are active members and a bona fide resident of Riverland Energy Cooperative. A billing number must be provided.

An applicant whose parents(s) or legal guardian(s) who is not an active member but resides in Riverland Energy service territory and his responsible for the electric bill, may be eligible. The applicant must have the active member send a letter that states the applicant's parent or legal guardian is reimbursing the active member for the electric bill at the residence.

Children of full-time REC employees or directors are eligible for this scholarship.

The application must be completed in full and received at the cooperative by mail, e-mail, in person, or online by March 14, 2025.

The recipients will be chosen in a random drawing at Riverland Energy Cooperative’s Annual Meeting. The applicant, or one of the applicant’s parents or legal guardians, MUST BE PRESENT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. If the applicant or one of the applicant’s parents or legal guardians is not present at the annual meeting, the applicant will not receive the scholarship should his/ her name be drawn and a new name will be drawn until the scholarship can be awarded to an applicant meeting attendance requirements.

Payment of Scholarship:

Payment will be made upon completion of the first quarter or semester of college, vocational, or technical school.

The recipient must be enrolled full-time and be in good standing at the school they are attending and have maintained a 2.0 grade point average or above, during their first semester of post-secondary education.

Evidence shall be provided including receipt of paid tuition for the second semester (or other proof of enrollment) and a copy of transcripts for the first semester.

Scholarship payment is issued to the school on behalf of the student.

Scholarships funds may be used for college tuition, books, fees, food, or lodging.

Access to the scholarship fund is valid for two (2) years from the date of when the scholarship was received.

Completed entries must be returned to any of our Riverland Energy Cooperative offices by 4:00 p.m. on March 14, 2025. Forms can also be e-mailed to Jordan Lien at jlien@riverlandenergy.com

Non-traditional Application

Three (3) non-traditional scholarship awards will be made available to individuals returning to a university or technical college after a minimum of three (3) years past high school graduation.

Qualifications:

The recipient must have maintained a 2.0 or better grade point average during their current quarter or semester of post-secondary education.
The recipient must be enrolled in a course of study leading to an associate or bachelor's degree.
The recipient must be enrolled with a minimum of 5 credits and be in good standing at their school.
The awarding of a non-traditional scholarship will be limited to a one-time award. After receiving a scholarship, the individual would not be eligible for future awards.

Selection Process:

Recipients will be selected in a random drawing at the Riverland Energy Cooperative Board of Directors Meeting from all completed and verified applications.

Payment of Non-traditional Scholarship:

Scholarship payment is issued to the school on behalf of the student once all the qualifications above are met.
Evidence shall be provided, including receipt of paid tuition (or other proof of enrollment) and a copy of transcripts for the previous semester.
The scholarship will be limited to a one-time award. After receiving a scholarship, the recipient would not be eligible for future awards.
Access to the scholarship fund is valid for two (2) years from receiving the scholarship.

The application deadline is March 14, 2025.

Scholarship Funding

Traditional/At-Large Scholarships

Non-Traditional Scholarships