Each year, San Miguel Power awards up to $27,000 in college scholarships to students who are dependents of SMPA members. We award up to sixteen scholarships to deserving graduating seniors.  This year's deadline for completed SMPA/Tri-State and Vocational scholarship applications is March 15.  The Basin Electric Scholarship applications are DUE February 8.

Main Deadline: March 15^th 2021

(Basin Deadline: February 8^th 2021)

The following scholarships are available for the 2021 School Year:

• $2,000 San Miguel Power Association Scholarship - SMPA awards a $2,000 college scholarship to one graduating senior from each of our six area high schools. Recipients are judged on their academic success, written essay, community involvement and leadership skills. This scholarship can be used at any post-secondary accredited institution. (Deadline: March 15^th)

• $2,000 San Miguel Power Association Vocational Scholarship - – SMPA awards a $2000 scholarship to one graduating senior from each of our six area high schools, who plan to enter vocational training or trade school. (Only accredited programs that result in a professional certification qualify.) Recipients are judged on appraisals from teachers, employers, or other adult supervisors; community involvement, academic performance and their answers to a standard questionnaire. (Deadline: March 15^th)

  - This vocational scholarship requires an Applicant Appraisal to be submitted by a qualified adult. A "qualified adult" is a teacher, coach, counselor, administrator, employer or mentor who is not a relative of the student.  This individual should have experience working with the student in an official capacity. (Deadline: March 15^th)

• $500 Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Scholarship - Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, SMPA's wholesale power supplier, allows SMPA to award two $500 college scholarships to academically deserving graduating seniors. This scholarship can be used at any post-secondary accredited institution. Students who apply for the San Miguel Power Scholarship are automatically considered for this scholarship.  (Deadline: March 15^th) No additional application is necessary.

• $1,000 Basin Electric Power Cooperative Scholarship - Through Tri-State, SMPA also purchases wholesale power from Basic Electric Power Cooperative. SMPA selects one candidate from the member graduation pool and awards a $1,000 college scholarship. SMPA will also select one candidate from the employee/dependent graduation pool and submit his/her name to Basin Electric. The Basin Electric Scholarship Selection Committee will select 20 recipients from the employee/dependent pool which is made up of submissions from all of Basin's member cooperatives. This scholarship can be used at any post-secondary accredited institution. (Deadline: February 8^th)

 Typically, the scholarship deadlines follow this schedule:

Early to Mid-October...................   Information about scholarships and applications are posted on www.smpa.com.
Late January to Early February...  Basin Electric applications are DUE to San Miguel Power
Mid-March...................................  SMPA Scholarship Applications DUE to San Miguel Power
Early April...................................   Scholarship Winners notified
Mid May......................................   Scholarships Awarded

RMEL Scholarship
Looking at a career in engineering, business, information systems, plant, line or distribution technology, line worker or other curriculum related to the electric energy industry? Check out RMEL's Scholarships. Please note, this is not an SMPA scholarship. 

Congratulations to the 2020 Scholarship Winners!

SMPA $2000 Scholarship - Norwood High School and Basin Electric $1000 Scholarship Jessica Barkemeyer	SMPA $200 Vocational Scholarship, Norwood High School Jeffrey Cael Spangler	SMPA $2000 Scholarship - Nucla High School Chloe Nelson
SMPA $200 Vocational Scholarship, Nucla High School Christian Josephsen	Tri-State Generation & Transmission $500 Scholarship Hailey Hibbert	SMPA $2000 Scholarship – Ouray High School Anna Biolchini
SMPA $2000 Scholarship - Ridgway High School Adli Gates	Tri-State Generation & Transmission $500 Scholarship Andrew Winkelmann	SMPA $2000 Scholarship - Silverton High School Amaris Hamilton
SMPA $200 Vocational Scholarship, Silverton High School Kyra Maxfield	SMPA $2000 Scholarship - Telluride High School Ambra Jacobson	SMPA $2000 Scholarship – Telluride Mountain School Jacqueline Waller