More than 2,500 students have been helped with their college education over the last 13 years with Pearl River Valley Electric’s Round Up for Education Scholarship program. This year, 28 Jones College students are amongst the 178 students who will each receive a total of $800 in scholarship funds, distributed in two installments, $400 for the fall semester and $400 for the spring semester, thanks to the generosity of PRVEPA members.
“Our members make this program possible,” said CEO/General Manager Matthew Ware. “By coming together and giving just a little each month, they are opening doors of opportunity for students who might not otherwise have this kind of support.”
In the program’s history, 2,532 students have received scholarships because of the Pearl River Valley Electric’s members who voluntarily round their bills up to the nearest dollar each month. Scholarships are available to PRVEPA members in its 12-county service area who participate in the program, as well as their spouses or dependent children who are enrolled as freshmen this fall. Students receive scholarships to help them begin the first year of their college journey. JC freshmen, Seth Mastin and Donald Parhm Jr., both of Hattiesburg said this scholarship is especially helpful.
“Every little bit helps because this is the only scholarship I know I am receiving,” said both Mastin and Parhm Jr.
Scholarship recipients this year include 102 students attending Pearl River Community College, 34 students at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, 28 at Jones College, and 14 students enrolled at four other state community colleges. Overall, students came from 24 different high schools and home school programs.
“It’s amazing to see how spare change can create such a powerful impact,” Ware added. “When thousands of members work together, their generosity not only changes individual lives but also strengthens the entire community. That spirit of cooperation is what makes this program so special.”
Pearl River Valley Electric is a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative that distributes electricity to more than 53,000 members in 12-counties in central and south Mississippi. It is headquartered in Columbia and has offices in Hattiesburg, Purvis, and Wiggins. JC scholarship recipients like Rae Grantham of Sumrall are grateful for the assistance.
“I’d like to thank everyone who contributed their change for the extra help in our journeys to earn an education and be successful in the community,” said Grantham whose brother Joshua is also receiving a scholarship and is taking classes at Jones College. “Every little bit helps our family and us, reach our educational goals.”
Round Up for Education funds collected after August 1 go toward next year’s scholarships. Applications for 2026 scholarships will be available beginning this month.
