Helping Our Youth Access Higher Education and Training!
San Miguel Power now awards up to $38,000 in college scholarships to students who are dependents of SMPA members. We award up to seventeen scholarships to deserving graduating seniors.
The scholarship application phase for 2025 is closed. See below for the typical scholarship timeline.
$1,000 Basin Electric Power Cooperative Scholarship
(Application Closed)
As a member of Basic Electric Power Cooperative, SMPA members have access to this scholarship. SMPA selects one candidate from the member graduation pool and awards a $1,000 college scholarship. This scholarship can be used at any post-secondary accredited institution.
This PDF application may be filled in digitally and emailed to alex@smpa.com, complete with attached essay and documents, or it can be printed out and turned in to an SMPA office (170 W. 10th Ave., Nucla or 720 N. Railroad St. Ridgway). In all cases, the completed application must be received by the deadline.
The 2025 Alltricity Scholarships
(Applications Closed)
The purpose of the Alltricity Scholarship Foundation is to award scholarships to deserving and qualified students in engineering, business, information systems, plant, line or distribution technology, line worker or other curriculum related to the electric energy industry.
$3,000 San Miguel Power Association Scholarship
(Application Closed)
SMPA awards a $3,000 college scholarship to one graduating senior from each of our seven area high schools (Ouray, Ridgway, Silverton, Norwood, Nucla, and Telluride (Telluride High School & Telluride Mountain School)). 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.
$3,000 San Miguel Power Association Vocational Scholarship
(Application Closed)
- SMPA awards a $3000 scholarship to one graduating senior from each of our seven area high schools (Ouray, Ridgway, Silverton, Norwood, Nucla, and Telluride (Telluride High School & Telluride Mountain School)), 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.
- 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.
$500 Tri-State Generation & Transmission Scholarships
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. No additional application is necessary.
Typical Schedule
Typically, the scholarship deadlines follow this schedule:
Early to Mid-October................... Information about scholarships and applications are posted above.
Mid to late February... Basin Electric applications are DUE to San Miguel Power
Mid to late February... Alltricity applications are DUE (see Alltricity Scholarship Foundation for details)
Mid-March................................... SMPA Collegiate and Vocational Scholarship Applications DUE to San Miguel Power
Early April................................... Scholarship Winners notified
Mid May...................................... Scholarships Awarded
Mid July...................................... Scholarships Checks Issued to Institutions
Congratulations to the 2025 Scholarship Winners!