Empowering Futures: Canoochee EMC Scholarships Reach New Heights
Canoochee EMC is thrilled to announce updates to its scholarships, offering even more support to students in our community. Thanks to the contributions of Operation Round Up participants, these scholarships have grown to make an even greater impact.
Celebrating Excellence With the Mary Shuptrine Tootle Scholarship
The prestigious Mary Shuptrine Tootle Scholarship now awards $5,000 to the top applicant. Named in honor of Canoochee EMC’s first employee, this scholarship celebrates Mary Shuptrine Tootle’s legacy of dedication and excellence in education. The $5,000 scholarship provides significant financial support for students to achieve their academic dreams.
Expanding Opportunities With Foundation Scholarships
The Canoochee EMC Foundation scholarships have increased to $4,000 each, and the foundation board is proud to pledge at least 10 scholarships this year.
These scholarships are open to high school seniors who plan to attend accredited universities, colleges or technical schools in Georgia. To qualify, applicants must:
• Reside in a home served by Canoochee EMC (or be members themselves).
• Demonstrate academic achievement and financial need.
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Giving Back to the Community
TThe Canoochee EMC Foundation is proud to support charitable initiatives that strengthen the lives of individuals and organizations in Long, Evans, Toombs, Tattnall, Liberty, Chatham, Bryan, Emanuel and Bulloch counties.
Recent contributions include:
• Long County Public Library: $5,000
• America’s Second Harvest: $5,000
• Toombs County Young Farmers: $3,000
At the last meeting, the Tattnall County Association of Educators was awarded $5,000 to support their 2025 countywide spelling bee.
These funds will help purchase trophies, provide monetary awards, cover travel expenses and offer tokens of appreciation for the bee’s pronouncer and judges. Check out a snapshot from this year’s participants—our community’s present spelling stars!
For more information about applying for funding, visit www.canoocheeemc.com/ cemc-foundation-application-organization or call (800) 342-0134.
Powering Our Community: Get Plugged In With Canoochee EMC
L Looking for a quick and easy way to support reliable, affordable electricity in our community? Plugged In Georgia is a grassroots advocacy platform that informs members about legislation impacting Canoochee EMC and members’ power bills.
Join today to ensure your voice is heard at the Georgia Capitol. Visit www.pluggedingeorgia.com or scan the QR Code to stay connected and protect affordable energy for all.
Springtime Brings Out Scammers
AAs spring blossoms, so do scams targeting unsuspecting homeowners. Just as the season brings birds, flowers and budding trees, it also attracts fraudsters posing as electric cooperative employees. Their goal?
To steal your money or personal information.
Protect yourself by recognizing these common tactics:
Unexpected Refund Offers
Scammers may call claiming you’ve overpaid your electric bill and request your bank account or credit card details to issue a refund. Remember, if you’ve paid your bill with a credit card or check, your utility already has this information and won’t ask for it again.
Unscheduled Home Visits
Fraudsters may show up at your door offering free services, like energy
STAY IN THE KNOW
audits, to gain access to your home. If you didn’t request a visit or receive prior notice from your electric cooperative, the visitor is likely a scammer.
Pressure to Pay Immediately
Legitimate utility workers will never demand immediate payment or threaten to cut off your service unless you pay on the spot. Be cautious of anyone asking for money through wire transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards or cash-reload cards—these are red flags for fraud.
How to Stay Safe
If someone contacts you or visits your home claiming to represent your electric cooperative:
• Politely decline their request for payment or personal information.
• Verify their identity by contacting your utility directly using the official contact information on your bill.
• Report suspicious activity to your electric cooperative immediately.
By staying vigilant and reporting scams, you’re not only protecting yourself but also helping your community stay safe from fraud. Let’s stop scammers in their tracks this spring!
Stay connected by keeping your contact information up to date. Current contact information benefits you in multiple ways:
Faster outage reporting and response.
Timely alerts about planned outages and other important updates. Smoother customer service interactions. Improved access to member benefits and programs.
Ensure your phone number, email address and mailing address are up to date so you can enjoy the benefits of staying connected.
Empowering Futures,
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Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Lineman?
Canoochee EMC is looking for the next generation of linemen! If you’re at least 17 years old, live on Canoochee EMC’s system and have been accepted into an approved lineman or lineworker training program, you could qualify for the Canoochee EMC Foundation Scholarship. This scholarship is your chance to gain the skills needed for a rewarding career in the energy industry. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to invest in your future and contribute to your community.
Powered by Community Generosity
These scholarships are funded in part through Operation Round Up, where members round up their
monthly electric bills to the nearest dollar to support local causes. On average, participants contribute about $6 annually, but together they’ve made a big difference.
Since 2001, Operation Round Up has contributed more than $2 million to local initiatives, including these transformative scholarships. Every penny is managed by the Canoochee EMC Foundation and directly benefits community needs.
By rounding up a few cents each month, Canoochee EMC members are helping build a brighter future— one scholarship at a time.
How to Apply
Are you a high school senior planning your next big step? Apply now for these life-changing scholarships!
• Visit www.canoocheeemc.com/ cemc-foundation-scholarship to apply and find full details.
• Visit www.canoocheeemc.com/ cemc-foundation-linemenscholarship to apply and read full details.
• Don’t wait! The application deadline is April 15 and winners will be announced in May.
For questions, email pr@canoocheeemc.com.
Touchstone Energy Senior Citizen of the Month
Congratulations to David Jernigan of Claxton for being selected as the March 2025 Touchstone Energy Senior Citizen of the Month.
