NewSun Energy awards scholarships

BEND – NewSun Energy has announced the winners of the third annual Climate + Ag Scholarship Essay Contest. Eleven graduating seniors from across rural Oregon were selected by a panel of regional leaders. One of the awardees is from Pendleton High School and another is from Heppner High School.

Their essays explored the complex topic of how climate change is affecting their communities, including ranching and farming practices; and how their communities are adapting.

Julianne Jones of Pendleton High School traces her family’s five-generation legacy in agriculture and wildfire resilience, inspired by her great-grandfather’s teachings on defensible space and firebreaks. Now aspiring to be an aviator with the U.S. Forest Service, she wrote “Wildfires are not just something to fight – they’re something to prevent. My duty will be to identify risks from the air and help protect the forests and farmers below.” Jones will attend Utah State University.

Mason Orem of Heppner High School discussed carbon farming and its role in protecting soil quality and supporting generational farms. “There is a delicate balance between doing what is right and what is best for yourself,” he wrote. Orem will attend the University of Idaho.

This year’s review committee included 20 leaders from across Oregon. It was comprised of legislators, nonprofit executive directors, renewable energy policy and legal experts, solar construction partners, county commissioners, and conservation and workforce development leaders as well as staff from NewSun Energy.

Now in its third year, the NewSun Climate + Ag Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors in select rural Oregon counties who plan to attend college in the fall. More information about eligibility and past winners can be found at newsunenergy.net/scholarship.

Photo from NewSun Energy

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