Wright-Hennepin awards $38,500 in scholarships to local students

Rockford, Minn. (June 15, 2026) — Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association (WH) awarded $38,500 in scholarships to 23 local students. WH has awarded more than $874,000 to local students since the scholarship program began in 1988. Scholarships are made possible with funding from unclaimed capital credits and contributions from WH Holding, which provides the legal structure for the cooperative’s non-electric diversified businesses. This allows WH to award these scholarships without impacting members’ electric rates.

 

WH Local School Scholarship

WH provides one scholarship to 19 high schools in its electric service area to award to an outstanding student pursuing higher education. The scholarship winners are selected by the school themselves. WH also offers one "at-large" scholarship for students who live within WH’s service area but do not attend one of the local schools. The following recipients received a WH local school scholarship this year:

  • Madilyn Swanson, Annandale High School
  • Kayla Heinz, Buffalo High School
  • JennyGrace Nelson, Dassel-Cokato High School
  • Jaida Erickson, Delano High School
  • Gabriella Koopman, Heritage Christian Academy
  • Ava Fiecke, Howard Lake -Waverly -Winsted High School
  • Scarlett Morrissey, Maple Grove High School
  • Grace Ronnenberg, Maple Lake High School
  • Riley Biljan, Monticello High School
  • Kaitlyn Klaers, Orono High School
  • Elisa Xhelilaj, Rockford High School
  • Jeffrey Dahl, Rogers High School
  • Amelia Lamm, St. Michael – Albertville Senior High School
  • Milan Erickson, Terra Nova School
  • Elliot Boersma, Watertown-Mayer High School
  • Aaratrika Mondal, Wayzata High School
  • Grayson Poppler, Wright Technical Center
  • Joseph Munene, Providence Academy (at-large scholarship)

 

Edward R. Slebiska Memorial Lineworker Scholarship 

Each year, the Edward R. Slebiska Scholarship is awarded in the name of the cooperative’s first CEO to individuals pursuing a career as electric lineworkers. During his time as CEO, Slebiska helped the cooperative bring reliable and affordable electricity to rural Wright County and western Hennepin County. The recipient of the 2026 Edward R. Slebiska Memorial Lineworker Scholarship is:

  • Dane Helget, Saint Francis High School

 

WH Security Scholarship 

WH Security offers one scholarship to Minnesota individuals pursuing education and training in fields relevant to technology systems work. The recipient of the 2026 WH Security Scholarship is:

  • Benjamin Hartshorn, Watertown-Mayer High School

     

Future Trades Leader Scholarship 

New this year, this scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance to students who are passionate about pursuing careers in fields such as electrical work, HVAC, heavy equipment, and other skilled trades. This year’s recipients are:

  • Miles Gillum, Heritage Christian Academy
  • Derek Kramer, Maple Lake High School

 

 

 

Basin Electric Scholarship 

Basin Electric Power Cooperative annually awards a scholarship to its distribution cooperative members. Basin is one of WH’s wholesale power suppliers, and is headquartered in Bismarck, N.D. The recipient of this year’s Basin Electric Scholarship is:

  • Sydney Pink, Delano High School

     

Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric utility that provides power to rural Wright County and western Hennepin County. The cooperative has been a corporate citizen to the area since 1937 and currently serves more than 61,000 electric accounts. It is headquartered in Rockford, Minn.

-end-

 

 

WH’s 2026 scholarship winners were invited to a celebratory banquet at the cooperative’s Rockford headquarters June 2, 2026.