Central Electric Cooperative has announced its 2026 scholarship recipients, awarding financial support to local students pursuing post-secondary education. The scholarships, funded by the cooperative and its partners, recognize leadership, academic achievement and community involvement. Recipients are selected through a competitive application process evaluated by an independent judge.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative Scholarship
The $2,500 Basin Electric Power Cooperative scholarship is awarded to one outstanding student in Central Electric’s service area who demonstrates leadership and academic excellence. Mitchell High School senior Hope Baysinger, daughter of Greg and Monica Baysinger of Woonsocket, was selected to receive the Basin Electric Power Cooperative Scholarship. She plans to study Animal Science at South Dakota State University.
Jay Headley Memorial Scholarship
The $1,000 Jay Headley Memorial Scholarship is awarded to one outstanding student in Central Electric’s service area who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in an agriculture-related field. The scholarship is sponsored by Jim and Cristine Headley, parents of the late Jay Headley, of White Lake. Bryce Larson, son of Steve and Roxann Larson of Letcher, was selected to receive the Jay Headley Memorial Scholarship. He is studying Agricultural Systems Technology at South Dakota State University.
District Scholarships
The Central Electric board of directors authorized District Scholarships to be awarded to students from each county. Eligible students must be the dependent of a cooperative member, they must apply for the Basin Electric scholarship and they must plan to enroll full-time at a post-secondary school this fall.
The District 3 Buffalo County $500 scholar is Wessington Springs High School senior Remie Roduner, daughter of Steve and Jennifer Roduner of Miller. Roduner plans to study Psychology at South Dakota State University.
The District 6 Jerauld County $500 scholars are Wessington Springs High School senior Luke Larson, son of Charley and Sarah Larson of Woonsocket, and Huron High School senior Hailey Rogers, daughter of Nicole Rogers and Eric Siemonsma of Alpena and Levi Rogers of Huron. Larson plans to study Electrical Construction and Maintenance at Mitchell Technical College. Rogers plans to study Elementary Education at Northern State University.
The District 8 Sanborn County $500 scholars are Woonsocket High School seniors Jaylyn Grassel, daughter of Jared and Rebecca Grassel of Woonsocket, and Corey Roberts, son of Samuel and Jelitza Roberts of Woonsocket. Grassel plans to study Radiologic Technology at Mitchell Technical College. Roberts plans to study Biology at the University of South Dakota.
About Central Electric
Central Electric is a member-owned cooperative serving mostly rural portions of Aurora, Brule, Buffalo, Davison, Hanson, Jerauld, Miner and Sanborn Counties. The cooperative also serves the towns of Aurora Center, Epiphany, Fort Thompson and Gann Valley. To learn more about Central Electric’s scholarships and youth programs, visit www.centralec.coop.
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