As the school year drew to close, several area students were beneficiaries of a unique program sponsored by Coweta-Fayette EMC.

The utility company awarded $17,500 in scholarships this year, thanks to the Operation RoundUp program.

The program invites members to “round up” their bill to the next highest dollar; the difference is then contributed to the RoundUp fund, which is administered by the Coweta Trust Board.

“Spread among 51,000 members, a few cents each month goes a long way toward helping those in need throughout our service area,” said EMC President and CEO Michael Whiteside. “Our members are to be congratulated for the huge difference they make in others' lives. We feel this may be our most important company initiative.”

Annually, Operation RoundUp funds the Melissa Segars Memorial Scholarship, through which deserving high school students are selected from throughout EMC's service area to receive either a $2,500 or a $1,000 scholarship.

Established by the Coweta Trust in 1994, the Melissa Segars Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to 60 students. Including this year's recipients, more than $105,000 has been giving to young people to further their education.

The scholarship is named for former Fayette County resident Melissa Segars, a young woman who suffered from a congenital heart malady and needed a heart transplant.

Although Segars lost her battle for life during a heart-lung transplant in 1993, she was an inspiration to hundreds of people who worked together to raise funds for her operation, and who efforts received national media attention. The community spirit she fostered was the inspiration for the scholarship.

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