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Scholarship Makes Difference for Grenora Grad
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Thomas Arnson and Kelly Lesmeister, MWEC distribution operations superintendent, following a recent tour of the MWEC facility.
Scholarship Makes Difference
for Grenora Grad
Every dollar helps when you’re a college student. That’s true for Thomas Arnson, a recipient of a Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative (MWEC) community scholarship.
“It will definitely help,” he said.
Arnson, a graduate of Grenora Public School, is currently attending Mitchell Technical College in Mitchell, S.D., where he is enrolled in the powerline construction and maintenance program.
His interest in this career field grew through conversations with friends already working in the industry.
“I have two friends that work at Mountrail-Williams right now,” he said. “I was talking with them, and they really enjoy it, and I thought I should give it a try.”
Arnson recently toured MWEC and hopes to return there after completing his one-year program.
“That’s where I want to end up after school for sure,” he said.
“It makes me feel good if I end up helping my community by keeping the power on. It brings a sense of accomplishment,”
~Thomas Arnson
At the heart of MWEC’s annual scholarship program is the belief that education is one of the most meaningful community investments it can make.
Each year, MWEC awards several scholarships to help offset the cost of postsecondary education. In 2024, MWEC amped up its scholarship opportunities with the addition of the community scholarship, offering nine $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors at several local schools.
Scholarships may be used for tuition, fees, textbooks, room and board, and other educational expenses. Students are selected based on academic performance, leadership, community involvement, work experience, future goals and an essay.
Arnson said the application process was straightforward.
“I had to write a short essay explaining what my plans are and some questions like that, so it’s a pretty simple process for the application,” he said.
Looking ahead, Arnson sees his future career with an electric cooperative like MWEC as a way to support his community.
“It makes me feel good if I end up helping my community by keeping the power on. It brings a sense of accomplishment,” he said.
For students considering scholarships, Arnson offers simple advice: “Just apply, apply, apply to as many as you can. It pays off in the long run.”
One student at a time, MWEC continues to demonstrate its commitment to strengthening the future of the communities it serves.