Brighton, CO – United Power proudly announces its scholarship recipients for 2025. This year, the cooperative awarded more than $35,000 in scholarships to outstanding students in its service territory. The United Power Scholarship Committee selected 20 high school seniors based on grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, community involvement, and a written essay. 

2025 Cooperative Scholarship recipients: 

• Ryan Brown, Frederick High School, Bill Berens Memorial Scholarship, $1,000
• Kennedy Cardillo, Weld Central High School, Lois Lesser Education Scholarship, $1,000
• Alora Tortorelli Cruz, Riverdale Ridge High School, Colorado College Scholarship, $2,000
• Isaac Griffith, Rocky Mountain Lutheran High School, United Power Community College Scholarship, $1,000
• Trevor Kurtz, Mead High School, Colorado College Scholarship, $2,000
• Madison Miller, Mead High School, United Power Technical/Vocational Scholarship, $1,000
• Adisyn Rademacher, Mead High School, United Power Youth Leadership Scholarship, $1,500

Additionally, United Power dedicates a Bright Futures Scholarship to a student from each high school within its service territory, provided the cooperative receives an application. This year, United Power awarded 13 scholarships for $2,000 each, including three “at-large” selections. 

Bright Futures Scholarships for 2025 were awarded to Ava Allen, Frontier Academy; Arely Chavez, Weld Central High School; Olivia Cornelius, Riverdale Ridge High School; Ethan DeBoo, Legacy High School; Kalei Dreiling, Prairie View High School; Carina DuLong, Fairview High School; Laneya Harris, Fort Lupton High School; Anna Jorstad, Brighton High School; Rolando Mijares Miranda, Frederick High School; Taryn Petruncola, Erie High School; Matthew Pineda, Stargate Charter School; Nicole Price, Mead High School; and Arnav Sudheer, Prospect Ridge Academy. 

More information about United Power’s scholarships, including a video recognizing this year’s recipients, can be found here. Scholarship applications are made available on the United Power’s website by December each year.

United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, delivering electricity to homes, farms, and businesses throughout Colorado’s northern front range. The cooperative is one of the fastest-growing electric co-ops in the nation, serving more than 115,000 meters. Its 900-square mile service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyon, along the I-25 corridor and Carbon Valley region, to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson, and Keenesburg. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

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May is here and that means high school and college graduation ceremonies are around the corner. Helium-filled and mylar balloons are a common theme at celebrations but they can become dangerous when they get loose and contact energized power lines. Thousands of these events occur every year, which can result in expensive equipment repairs and prolonged outages. 

Balloon-Related Safety Measures

Loose balloons can find their way into power lines even if they are not immediately located nearby. Practice the following safety measures at your events and celebrations: 

• Never let helium-filled balloons drift away outdoors. Keep balloons indoors whenever possible to ensure they cannot be released and drift into power lines. If you are using balloons outside, anchor them with weights and double check to make sure they are secure. 
• Avoid bundling balloons together. Anchor each balloon individually with a short string to control its direction. 
• Never tie metallic string or streamers to balloons. Metallic materials conduct electricity and can become a pathway to the ground if a balloon contacts a power line. 
• Deflate balloons after use. Properly dispose of balloons after your event and clean up any remnants so that wildlife, such as birds or squirrels, cannot carry pieces into energized equipment. 
• Never try to retrieve or release balloons caught in power lines. Power lines carry a high voltage and are extremely dangerous. If you notice balloons or other obstructions in power lines, contact United Power at 303-637-1300. 

Member Responsibility

United Power members who release balloons could be liable for damages to the cooperative’s electrical equipment as well as any related damages. Members are encouraged to practice balloon safety and properly dispose of them after use.