Sparta, North Carolina Jun 4, 2026 (3:33 PM)

Alleghany Students Awarded Scholarships from Blue Ridge Energy

(l-r): John Evans, Alleghany District & Operations Manager; Bryan Edwards, Blue Ridge Energy Board Member; Hafize Bonilla, Scholarship Recipient; Mitch Franklin and Johnny Wishon, Blue Ridge Energy Board Members

(l-r): John Evans, Alleghany District & Operations Manager; Talmage Pasley, Scholarship Recipient

Blue Ridge Energy recently awarded $32,000 in college scholarships to 12 students across its service areas seeking to further their academic goals. The scholarships are part of the Blue Ridge Energy Leadership Track program, designed to help high school students prepare for their future while strengthening their leadership skills. In Alleghany County, two students received a total of $5,000.

The recipients are:

Hafize Bonilla, daughter of Hatice Yilmaz, received $4,000 to study at Wilkesboro Community College;

Talmage Pasley, son of Lucas and Iboya Pasley, received $1,000 to study at North Carolina State University;

This year marks the 67^th year Blue Ridge has awarded college scholarships. To date, more than 500 area students and citizens have received over $710,000 to help them attend the college of their choice.

For more information about the Blue Ridge Energy Leadership Track, visit our website, BlueRidgeEnergy.com, click on the “Community” tab, or contact Tasha Rountree, director of community relations, at 828-759-8994 or trountree@blueridgeenergy.com.

Blue Ridge Energy is a member-owned electric cooperative serving some 80,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, and Alleghany counties and parts of Wilkes, Avery, and Alexander counties. It also includes a propane heating fuels subsidiary and a business-to-business telecommunications subsidiary. Learn more at www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com.