Last Updated on June 3, 2025 10:37 am
Blue Ridge Energy recently awarded $32,000 in college scholarships to 14 students across its service area seeking to further their academic goals. The scholarships are part of the Blue Ridge Energy Leadership Track program, designed to help high school students better prepare for acceptance into the college of their dreams.
In Ashe County, eight students received a total of $14,000. The recipients are:
Bryan Bowlin, son of Wesley Bowlin and Misty Shatley, received $1,500 to attend Appalachian State University;
Owen Roten, son of Michael and Emily Roten, received $1,500 to attend East Tennessee State University;
Kathryn Pruitt, daughter of Ronnie and Tarren Pruitt, received $1,500 to attend the University of North Carolina at Wilmington;
Maleah Lovell, daughter of Travus and Mandy Lovell, received $2,500 to attend Wake Forest University;
Paige Roten, daughter of George and Ronda Roten, received $1,500 to attend Appalachian State University;
John David Lea, son of Michael and Natalie Lee, received $2,500 to attend East Tennessee State University;
Sarah McClure, daughter of Derek and Laura McClure, received $1,500 to attend Emory and Henry University;
Isaac Firebaugh, son of Joseph and Martha Firebaugh, received $1,500 to attend the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Blue Ridge Energy Leadership Track students begin college preparations in their freshman or sophomore year and develop leadership skills while preparing for the college acceptance and scholarship interview process. They also receive real-life skills like money management, social etiquette, and public speaking. As seniors, Leadership Track students are invited to apply for renewable scholarships worth up to $4,000 each.
This year marks the 66th year Blue Ridge has awarded college scholarships. To date, more than 523 area students and citizens have received over $678,000 to help them attend the college of their choice.
For more information about the Blue Ridge Energy Leadership Track, visit our website, BlueRidgeEnergy.com, click on the “Community” tab, or contact Tasha Rountree, director of community relations, at 759-8994 or trountree@blueridgeenergy.com,
Blue Ridge Energy is a member-owned electric cooperative serving some 80,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, and Alleghany counties and parts of Wilkes, Avery, and Alexander counties. It also includes a propane heating fuels subsidiary and a business-to-business telecommunications subsidiary. Learn more at www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com.
(front row l-r): Bryan Bowlin, Sarah McClure, Owen Roten, Isaac Firebaugh, Paige Roten, Kathryn Pruitt, Maleah Lovell, and John David Lea, Scholarship Recipients; April Blevins, Ashe District Manager (back row l-r): David Boone and Cindy Price; Blue Ridge Energy Ashe Board Members
