The Community Foundation of OEC

On May 23, 2023, The Community Foundation of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives presented a $13,000 check to the Blake Rodgers Memorial Scholarship fund. These funds will help cover tuition for students attending the power line mechanic program at the Scioto County Career Technical Center in Lucasville, Ohio, where Blake completed his training.

“The Community Foundation is honored to be able to provide financial resources in Blake Rodgers’ name, to help future students obtain initial training as they begin to pursue a career in a field that is so vital to all of us,” said Doug Miller, vice president of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives and its Community Foundation. “Our lives and businesses depend on electricity every day and linemen make it possible to receive this essential service.”

After attending Scioto County Career Technical Center, Blake Rodgers joined Buckeye REC as an apprentice lineman. He quickly fell in love with his work and was passionate about helping others. In December 2022,

Blake lost his life while working to restore power to BREC members during Winter Storm Elliott. He was 22 years old.

Blake is remembered by his co-workers for his love of life and the way he made everyone feel like family. His sense of humor was unmatched. In addition to his committed life of service, Blake enjoyed any outdoor adventure, spending time with his grandfather, and being an amazing big brother. He was a 2018 graduate of Piketon High School.

Brandie and Brandon Hale, Blake’s mother and stepfather, will also be donating personal voltage and current detectors to any scholarship recipient, in the event they are not provided one. “Blake touched so many lives in one way or another," Brandie said. "Through the scholarship fund, we intend to keep Blake’s memory alive by continuing to help others, as Blake would have."

For more information on how to donate to the scholarship fund, please visit the Blake Rodgers Memorial Scholarship Facebook page.

In April, 65 employees and board members representing 21 of Ohio’s electric cooperatives attended NRECA’s 2023 Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.

From Buckeye REC, board members Paul Berridge, Wesley "Wes" Williams, William "Bill" Holcomb, and Dennis Blakeman met with nine Ohio representatives, Sen. Sherrod Brown, and Sen. J.D. Vance to discuss issues affecting our industry: electric generation, reliability, supply chain challenges, and federal permitting processes. During legislative meetings, Ohio attendees also highlighted the impacts of the Department of Energy’s Transformer Rule and how it would severely impact electric reliability and raise costs.