Kiowa Power Partners, LLC, owner of Tenaska Kiamichi Generating Station near Kiowa, and the facility’s electricity customer, Shell Energy North America (US), L.P. (Shell Energy), have awarded $10,500 in college scholarships to seven Kiowa High School seniors.
Since 2004, the companies have presented 132 scholarships totaling $134,500 to local students. Scholarships were awarded to Kiowa High School students who demonstrate good character, academic achievement and leadership.
“We are proud to support these promising students as they continue their education and prepare to be future leaders of the community,” said Frank Carelli, plant manager at Tenaska Kiamichi.
Scholarships were awarded to: Jacob Church, son of Brad and April Church, of Kiowa; Emiley Cole, daughter of Cara Cole, of Kiowa; Peyton Edwards, daughter of ReGina Dugger, of Kiowa; Wyatt Gardner, son of Tracy and Melissa Gardner, of Kiowa; Jake McAlester, son of Stacy and Norman McAlester, of McAlester; Mercedes Odom, daughter of Pauline Crawley, of Savanna; and Colton Ray, son of Cody and Amy Ray, of Kiowa.
The annual scholarship program managed by Omaha, Nebraska-based Tenaska has awarded approximately $760,000 in scholarships nationwide. Roughly 885 students in communities where its facilities are located have benefited from the program since 2000.
Fueled by clean-burning natural gas, Tenaska Kiamichi produces 1,220 megawatts of electricity for sale to Shell Energy, which markets the power.
The plant is a large taxpayer in Pittsburg County, contributing more than $40.8 million in property taxes to date. In 2018, the plant injected approximately $5.8 million in salaries and payments to local contractors and vendors into the area economy. In addition, employees volunteered more than 900 hours to support local community and charitable projects.
Kiowa Power Partners, LLC is comprised of affiliates of Tenaska, Tyr Energy, Inc. and JERA Co., Inc.