1.5 SR 05-13-2025______________________________________________________________________________
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UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:
ERMU Commission
FROM:
Tony Mauren – Governance & Communications Manager
MEETING DATE:
May 13, 2025
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
1.5
SUBJECT:
ERMU Scholarship
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
BACKGROUND:
Previously ERMU had partnered with Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association’s (MMUA)
statewide scholarship program. With MMUA adapting its program, ERMU communications staff
took the opportunity to update its own program, specifically focusing on improving response
rates as well as supporting students seeking careers in electric, water, and/or conservation
service fields. The program was also updated in 2025 to provide up to two $1,000 awards
annually.
Staff reviewed scholarship programs from various organizations and created an application that
encourages students pursuing vocational, two-year, or four-year schools to apply. The
traditional essay format was replaced with short-answer questions designed to provide insight
into the applicant as an individual, their post-secondary education plans, and their
understanding of municipal utilities’ role in the community.
DISCUSSION:
ERMU is excited to announce that Elk River High School seniors Andrew Madson and Owen
Westberg have been selected as the recipients of the 2025 ERMU scholarships. Andrew will
attend line school this fall, as he was drawn to the profession for its blend of physical work,
problem-solving, and career stability. Andrew also participated in a line crew job shadow at
ERMU recently. Owen Westberg plans to attend a four year university to pursue a degree in
engineering, with a possible emphasis on electrical engineering, leveraging his strengths in
math and science.
ERMU wishes both students the best as they pursue their goals in these vital fields.
ATTACHMENTS:
• ERMU Scholarship Application
• Scholarship Certificates
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Applicant must be a high school senior who is a customer or have a legal guardian who is a customer of Elk River Municipal Utilities.
PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN INFORMATION
APPLICANT INFORMATION (please complete all information below)
ELIGIBILITY
AWARD SELECTION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Name Phone County
Address City State Zip
Email Graduation date
Name(s) Phone
Email
• A scholarship committee selected by Elk River Municipal Utilities reviews all qualifying applications and selects recipients.
• Recipients are chosen from all applications without regard to family financial circumstances, college choice, gender, race, ethnic origin,
or religious preferences.
• Only qualifying applications will be considered.
• The two scholarship recipients will be notified by a representative of Elk River Municipal Utilities by May 1, 2025.
• I acknowledge it is my responsibility to complete and submit the scholarship application by the required March 12, 2025, deadline.
• If granted a scholarship I understand that ERMU may use my name and photo for purposes of announcing winners of the utilities’
scholarships.
Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) will award up to two students with a $1,000 post-secondary education scholarship in 2025.
The goal of this program is to provide financial assistance for those who plan to further their education towards a career in water,
electric, or conservation related fields.
Complete the front and back of this scholarship application.
Provide a copy of the most recent education transcript
before the deadline.
Submit this scholarship application and recent education
transcript before March 12, 2025, via mail or email.
Mail to:
ERMU - Scholarship Committee
PO Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330
Email communications@ermumn.com
How to Apply for a Scholarship
(Available to high school seniors who are customers or have a legal guardian who is a customer of ERMU.)
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OR
ERMUMN.COM | 763.441.2020 | 13069 ORONO PARKWAY | PO BOX 430 | ELK RIVER, MN 55330-0430
HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR APPLICATION
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
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ERMU SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION QUESTIONS
W hat are your career goals and why does this field interest you?
What courses in high school prepared you for your future plans?
What do you consider are your greatest strengths?
Who has had a significant influence on you? Describe that influence.
Elk River Municipal Utilities is a community-owned utility. Provide three examples of how a public
power utility benefits the communities it serves.
W hat are your education plans? (Please check one.)
Vocational-technical school 2-year community/junior college 4-year college/university
HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR APPLICATION
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
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