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______________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 1 of 1 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING <br /> <br />TO: <br />ERMU Commission <br />FROM: <br />Tony Mauren – Governance & Communications Manager <br />MEETING DATE: <br />May 13, 2025 <br />AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: <br />1.5 <br />SUBJECT: <br />ERMU Scholarship <br />ACTION REQUESTED: <br />None <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Previously ERMU had partnered with Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association’s (MMUA) <br />statewide scholarship program. With MMUA adapting its program, ERMU communications staff <br />took the opportunity to update its own program, specifically focusing on improving response <br />rates as well as supporting students seeking careers in electric, water, and/or conservation <br />service fields. The program was also updated in 2025 to provide up to two $1,000 awards <br />annually. <br /> <br />Staff reviewed scholarship programs from various organizations and created an application that <br />encourages students pursuing vocational, two-year, or four-year schools to apply. The <br />traditional essay format was replaced with short-answer questions designed to provide insight <br />into the applicant as an individual, their post-secondary education plans, and their <br />understanding of municipal utilities’ role in the community. <br /> <br />DISCUSSION: <br />ERMU is excited to announce that Elk River High School seniors Andrew Madson and Owen <br />Westberg have been selected as the recipients of the 2025 ERMU scholarships. Andrew will <br />attend line school this fall, as he was drawn to the profession for its blend of physical work, <br />problem-solving, and career stability. Andrew also participated in a line crew job shadow at <br />ERMU recently. Owen Westberg plans to attend a four year university to pursue a degree in <br />engineering, with a possible emphasis on electrical engineering, leveraging his strengths in <br />math and science. <br /> <br />ERMU wishes both students the best as they pursue their goals in these vital fields. <br /> <br />ATTACHMENTS: <br />• ERMU Scholarship Application <br />• Scholarship Certificates <br /> <br />3