"Education, Training, and Information: A Cooperative Principle in Action - Lifting up the Next Generation

Marion Local High School’s Rachel Partington and Shawnee High School’s David Stirn captured top honors in the 2019 Midwest Electric scholarship competition, featuring judges from Wright State University-Lake Campus.
 

The two seniors each received a $2,000 scholarship. Partington will go on to represent Midwest Electric in the Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives statewide scholarship competition in Columbus this spring, where a total of $38,200 will be distributed.

Second-place $1,500 scholarships were awarded to Julia Beyke of St. Henry High School and Nicolas Frilling of Coldwater High School. Receiving third-place $1,000 scholarship awards were Alexandria Bauer of Wapakoneta High School and Charles Walter of St. Marys Memorial High School.

The six general scholarship winners were selected from a field of 33 area high school seniors, with a 3.5- or higher-grade point average, whose parents are Midwest Electric members.

Additionally, Brooke Kuether, Marion Local High School, won the $2,000 Touchstone Energy Achievement Scholarship, which is awarded to a student who has overcome a significant challenge in pursuit of their goals. Keuther, the daughter of Ben and Kelly Keuther, is majoring in nursing at either the University of Toledo or Bowling Green State University.

Partington, of Minster, plans to attend either the University of Toledo, University of Dayton, or University of Cincinnati, majoring in bioengineering or biomedical engineering. A Girl Scout Troop for 12 years, Partington is also involved in volleyball and softball, holds a class officer position, serves on Student Council and National Honor Society, assists as a teacher’s aid and tutor, performs in school musicals, and is a Buckeyes Girls State Delegate. She has a 4.0 GPA and is ranked first in her class. Douglas and Tara Partington are her parents.

Stirn, of Lima, will attend Cedarville University and major in computer science. With six years of Science Olympiad experience, Stirn was also the highest-scoring junior and second-highest scoring senior this year in the Bluffton Annual Mathematics Competition. A Spanish Club officer, TEAMS Essay Captain, and a member of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Stirn is ranked second in his class with a 4.0 GPA. He is the son of Philip and Laura Stirn.

Beyke, of St. Henry, is deciding between multiple universities but plans to study exercise physiology or biomedical engineering with a pre-medical track. She has three years of experience as a Vacation Bible School music leader, four years as a varsity swimmer and team captain, and six years of giving swim lessons and lifeguarding. She is also involved in National Honors Society, band, and SADD. Beyke has a 3.89 GPA and is the daughter of Brad and Carmen Beyke. 

Frilling, of Coldwater, will attend either Case Western, the University of Dayton, or Ohio Northern University and plans to major in aerospace engineering. An avid food pantry volunteer, mass server, and treasurer of the Columbian Squires for the past two years, Frilling also plays baseball, football, and basketball and is a member of the Industrial Technology Club and National Honor Society. Frilling has a 4.0 GPA and is the son of Jay and Beth Frilling.

Bauer, of Wapakoneta, will attend either Ohio State University, the University of Toledo, or the University of Cincinnati and will major in chemical engineering. With 10 years of piano lessons under her belt and 15 years of dance lessons at the Dance Center in Wapakoneta, Bauer is also involved in 4-H, Church Youth Group, Yearbook Club, cheerleading, National Honors Society, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She has a 3.9 GPA and is the daughter of Mark and Christa Bauer.

Walter, of St. Marys, is considering the University of Toledo or Wright State University and will major in electrical engineering. He has raised dairy beef steers for nine years and served as a 4-H camp counselor, as well as being active in boys varsity bowling and marching band. As National Honor Society secretary, Walter has a 4.0 GPA and is the son of Greg and Sarah Walter.

Midwest Electric will also be giving away an additional $1,000 scholarship at its annual meeting on Saturday morning, June 1, at St. Marys Memorial High School. Registration and the free buffet breakfast for members starts at 8:15 a.m., with the business meeting at 9:15 a.m. Applicants must be pursuing college or trade school in the fall of 2019 and have a minimum 2.5 GPA. Parents or the applicant must be a member of Midwest Electric. It will be a random drawing done at the meeting; the student must be present to win.

Electric cooperatives know career preparation can be expensive. Midwest Electric is committed to empowering the communities it serves through one of its cooperative principles, “Education, Training, and Information,” which aims to uplift the next generation of leaders, provide local youth with resources to succeed, and give back to the members it exists on behalf of. 

One thing is for sure: We definitely appreciate the youth of today and want to support them in any way we can! 

*Photo cutline from top: L-R, back row: Midwest Electric Member Service Supervisor Kecia Schmerge, CEO Matt Berry, Nicolas Frilling, David Stirn, Julia Beyke, Business Development Coordinator David Waltermire; L-R, front row: Alexandria Bauer, Rachel Partington, Brooke Kuether (Not pictured: Charles Walter)