Boone, North Carolina Jun 4, 2026 (3:27 PM)

Watauga Students Awarded Scholarships from Blue Ridge Energy

(l-r): Tasha Rountree, Director of Community Relations & Economic Development; Kelvin Gryder, Board of Director; Leo McEvoy and Riley Olson, Scholarship Recipients; Angie Miller and J.B Lawrence, Board of Directors

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 Watauga County, two students received a total of $7,000.

The recipients are:

Leo McEvoy, son of David McEvoy and Marta Toran, received $3,000 to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill;

Riley Olson, daughter of Dan and Carroll Olson, received $4,000 to attend the United States Air Force Academy;

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.