The utility

company awarded $17,500 in scholarships this year, thanks

to the Operation RoundUp program.

The program

invites members to "round up" their bill to the

next highest dollar; the difference is then contributed

to the RoundUp fund, which is administered by the Coweta

Trust Board.

"Spread

among 51,000 members, a few cents each month goes a long

way toward helping those in need throughout our service

area," said EMC President and CEO Michael Whiteside.

"Our members are to be congratulated for the huge

difference they make in others' lives. We feel this may

be our most important company initiative."

Annually,

Operation RoundUp funds the Melissa Segars Memorial

Scholarship, through which deserving high school students

are selected from throughout EMC's service area to

receive either a $2,500 or a $1,000 scholarship.

Established

Scholarship has been awarded to 60 students. Including

this year's recipients, more than $105,000 has been

giving to young people to further their education.

The

scholarship is named for former Fayette County resident

Melissa Segars, a young woman who suffered from a

congenital heart malady and needed a heart transplant.

Although

Segars lost her battle for life during a heart-lung

transplant in 1993, she was an inspiration to hundreds of

people who worked together to raise funds for her

operation, and who efforts received national media

attention. The community spirit she fostered was the

inspiration for the scholarship.

<!--##############