Basin and Northern Scholarships

Each year, Northern Electric Cooperative and Basin Electric Power Cooperative collaborate to provide scholarships to local students. Basin is Northern electric's wholesale power supplier. This year, the amount awarded by Basin has increased to $1,000 and $1,500. Northern will award a $500 scholarship as well.

The selection of the winners is based on SAT/ACT scores, grade point average, an application outlining high school/college honors, community and school activities, employment history, future career goals, a short essay focused on an electricity or cooperative theme, and recommendation by a third party.

Click to download scholarship application

2026 Scholarship Application

The deadline to apply is Feb. 9, 2026.

Completed applications should be mailed to:
Northern Electric Cooperative
PO Box 457
Bath, SD 57427

Applications can also be dropped off at the Northern Electric Cooperative office by the Feb. 9, 2026 deadline.

Other scholarships

2025 Scholarship Winners

Maxwell Kulesa ($1,000)

Maxwell Kulesa has a 4.26 grade point average at Ipswich High School and has been on the A Honor Roll for every semester. He sat as the president for Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and the National Honors Society (NHA) and is his class valedictorian. While being involved in FBLA he qualified in nationals. Kulesa is involved in football, basketball, and track. He was the captain of the football and basketball teams this year. In 2024, his team won the state championship in the 4x200 and 4x100 in track. Kulesa plans to attend South Dakota State University in the fall where he will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in finance. He is hoping to go into a career in petroleum engineering someday

 

Ella Johnson ($500)

Ella Johnson has a 4.26 grade point average at Hitchcock-Tulare High School. She has excelled not only in her academics but also in volleyball, 4-H, Future Farmers of America (FFA), and Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). Johnson has held officer positions for 4-H and FCCLA. Johnson plans to attend Mount Marty University in the fall and pursue a degree in nursing. She utilized the ability to take dual credits in high school and will be graduating with 36 college credits going into her freshman year. Upon graduation she plans to locate in South Dakota or Nebraska. “This scholarship will help to relieve the cost of my schooling since I am attending a private college,” Johnson said.