News

First Electric awarded $2,000 college scholarships to nine recent high school graduates living in the cooperative’s five districts. The scholarships, awarded at $1,000 per semester, may be used to attend a technical school or college in the state and are funded through the cooperative’s Operation Round-Up program.

The 2026 scholarship recipients are:

Benton District

• Sierra Gibbs, Little Rock – Bryant High School
• Claire Matthews, Bryant – Bryant High School

Heber Springs District

• Miles Bittle, Heber Springs – Harding Academy
• Hannah Ritter, Heber Springs – Heber Springs High School

Jacksonville District

• Paten Oxner, Searcy – Searcy High School
• Georgie McMahan, Searcy – Searcy High School
• Logan Underwood, Austin – Cabot High School

Perryville District

• Grace Gunther, Bigelow – Bigelow High School

Stuttgart District

• Khloe Lloyd, Crockett's Bluff – DeWitt High School

First Electric members who participate in Operation Round-Up volunteer to have their monthly electric bill rounded up to the next even dollar amount.

Since 1998, the Operation Round-Up program has awarded more than $1.8 million in donations to nonprofit organizations and provided college scholarships. Members may enroll in Operation Round-Up by visiting First Electric Operation Round-Up or by calling 800-489-7405.