MEC Scholarship Recipients

Marlboro Electric Cooperative proudly awards $2,500 or $9,500 annual scholarships to new recipients each year. Current members whose children attend or plan to attend a two- or four-year college are eligible. The scholarship is to be applied toward undergraduate college expenses, as long as the recipients maintain eligibility per the requirements established by MEC.

At the beginning of each calendar year, scholarship applications are available at our website, on our Facebook page, or at the office. Application deadlines are in mid-March. Winners are notified by early June.

Harlie McKenna Ashburn

McKenna is celebrating her high school graduation with family.

“During COVID-19, I’ve gotten very close to family I didn’t get to see much during the school year,” she says.

She will attend Florence-Darlington Tech in the fall—the first step toward a career in nursing.

“I love everything about nursing,” McKenna says. “I love the compassion and the selflessness I’ve seen in so many nurses I have met during my time of having health issues. That is what led me to want to become a nurse.

“Thank you so much, MEC. This scholarship helps me get closer to achieving everything I have ever wanted. This helps me clear my mind of having to worry about money, and how I’m going to get through college.”

McKenna is the daughter of Brandy Ashburn and Jammie Spradley of Wallace.

James Dockery Jr.

While James’ family lives in Wallace, he has spent the past two years enrolled in the residential program at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics. He graduated May 30.

“In the spirit of social distancing, the graduation ceremony was held at the Darlington Raceway, allowing me to both graduate and cross an item off of my bucket list,” James says.

This fall, James will attend the College of Charleston to pursue astrophysics.

“I want to get my doctorate degree and work as a planetary astronomer at NASA or as a professor of astronomy at a university,” he says. “This scholarship will help support my summer research prospects at the College of Charleston, as it will help offset those additional costs and enable my family to save.”

James is the son of James Dockery Sr. and Wanda Cassidy-Dockery.

Joshua Griggs

With the end of the school year abruptly canceled, Joshua has spent recent weeks celebrating his graduation and being around close family and friends.

He will attend Charleston Southern in the fall, with plans to study engineering.

“Receiving this scholarship will help in a major way,” Joshua says. “It will ease the load off after school. In addition, it will help me get an education at a top-level school with top-tier professors. Most importantly, that will help me achieve my goals and dreams for the future.”

Joshua’s interest in being an engineer stems from a desire to build new things that help in everyday life. He says the engineering program at Charleston Southern produces well-rounded people of faith.

“I would like to thank Marlboro Electric for allowing me to be a recipient of the scholarship and for always providing residents across the county with some of the best services,” he says.

Joshua is the son of Debra Griggs and Larry Griggs, both of Bennettsville.