REYNOLDS — Flint Energies and its non-profit Foundation presented the South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) Foundation with a donation of $1,600 for General Education Diploma (GED) scholarships recently. The scholarship money was contributed from unclaimed capital credit funds.
“As part of our commitment to community, Flint Energies and its non-profit Foundation is proud to offer a first-time scholarship program,” announced the Flint Energies board of directors.  “Students within Flint Energies’ service territory now have an opportunity to obtain money for college and their GED.”
Students whose primary residence is located within one of the 17 counties served by Flint Energies will be able to apply for funds for their GED through the SGTC Foundation. The 17-counties served by Flint Energies includes:  Bibb, Chattahoochee, Crawford, Dooly, Harris, Houston, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Muscogee, Peach, Schley, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Twiggs and Upson.
For more information about the GED scholarships, contact the South Georgia Technical College Foundation, Executive Director Su Ann Bird, P.O. Box 6102, Americus, GA or sbird@southgatech.edu or 229-931-2248.
In addition to the GED testing funds donation, Flint Energies also founded a scholarship program to help local students further their education at any accredited school of their choice – in or out of state. The Flint Energies Foundation Scholarship is limited to students who primary resident is within one of the 17 counties served by Flint Energies.
Twenty-two scholarships, worth $1,000 each will be awarded to students pursuing a technical college degree. Ten scholarships, worth $2,500 each, will be awarded to students pursuing a degree at a four-year college or university.
Because this scholarship is only open to students living within 17 counties and because the Foundation will award at least 20 scholarship per year, applicants have a much greater chance of receiving one than in statewide or national programs.
“Supporting quality education has always been a large part of our commitment to community. College costs continue to increase each year and we hope that this scholarship program will help local students achieve their dream of a college education,” said Marian McLemore, manager of public relations at Flint Energies.
Scholarship applicants are required to complete an application which includes four short essays explaining how they demonstrate the four Touchstone Energy core values in their lives. A panel of retired educators will judge these essays blindly, and those scores – coupled with the students’ grade-point averages, community involvement and financial need – will determine the winners.
The applications for the 2016 scholarship program are now available. Applications and information can be downloaded at www.flintenergies.com and must be postmarked by March 31, 2016.  pplications should be addressed to “Flint Energies Foundation Scholarship.” Scholarships will be awarded in May 2016.
Questions can be directed to Marian McLemore at mmclemore@flintemc.com or 800-342-3616, ext. 5600.