Lucasville, OH—T presented a check for $16,304.81 to Scioto County Career Technical Center Monday, November 20, to continue its support and advancement of the Blake Rodgers Memorial Scholarship.
This is the second large donation given by OLSA and OEC. The funds were raised during the OLSA Golf Scramble in September 2023, which was dedicated to fallen lineman Blake Rodgers. OLSA President Alan Amos took part in the check presentation to the career center, along with representatives from the school, OEC, Buckeye Rural Electric, and Blake Rodgers family.
Nearly one year ago, on December 23, 2022, Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative lineman Blake Rodgers lost his life while restoring power during Winter Storm Elliott. To honor Blake’s parents, the school, Buckeye Rural Electric, and ƹ϶Ƶ’s Electric Cooperatives worked together to establish the scholarship in his name. It will help pay tuition fees for students attending the power line mechanic program at the Scioto County Career Technical Center in Lucasville, ƹ϶Ƶ, where Rodgers attended.
Rodgers’ mother and stepfather, Brandie and Brandon Hale, attended both the inaugural check presentation of $13,000 in May, and the second presentation. Two Scioto County Technical School students, Wyatt Pierce and Cayden Maddix, were awarded the first scholarships in August.
“Blake touched so many lives in one way or another. Through the scholarship fund, we intend to keep Blake’s memory alive by continuing to help others, as Blake would have, said Brandie Hale.
“OLSA and OEC are committed to continuing to provide financial resources to support the Blake Rodgers Memorial Scholarship. It allows students to pursue the career and training they need in a field of work that is so vital to all of us. We couldn’t live our lives and run our businesses without electricity that we depend on every minute of every day, and it’s lineworkers that make it possible for all of us to receive this essential service,” said Doug Miller, Vice President, ƹ϶Ƶ’s Electric Cooperatives.