BOONE, N.C. — Five first-year Mountaineer students — all graduates of Watauga High School — have been named recipients of Appalachian State University’s New River Light and Power (NRLP) Scholarship for the 2024–25 academic year. Established in 1988, the scholarship provides funding to Watauga County students pursuing higher education at App State and is a key part of App State’s founding mission to increase access to higher education.

The 2024–25 scholarship recipients:

• James Collins
  Major: undecided
• Thomas Cook
  Major: finance and banking
• Kasey Gragg
  Major: communication sciences and disorders
• Brielynn Myers
  Major: special education
• Stryker Ward
  Major: exercise science

The NRLP award provides students with $4,000 each year and is renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters or four years of undergraduate study, excluding Summer Sessions. All graduating high school seniors residing in Watauga County who have been accepted to App State are eligible to apply for the NRLP Scholarship. Recipients must maintain a required 3.0 GPA at the end of each academic year to retain the scholarship.

“Since 1988, New River Light and Power has awarded almost $2 million in scholarships to Watauga County students,” said NRLP General Manager Matt Makdad. “Empowering our local community through education is an important part of our mission. We are proud that these newest scholarship recipients are part of the long legacy of public power supporting local communities.”

In addition to its signature scholarship, NRLP is establishing a Lineworker Scholarship in partnership with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute’s Electrical Lineworker Institute, which is set to launch in 2025. This scholarship will cover the cost of the lineworker program and will be made available to Watauga High School graduating seniors.

“With this new scholarship, NRLP hopes to encourage a new generation of lineworkers from the High Country to serve in these much-needed roles,” said NRLP Operations Superintendent Alan Byrd, a second-generation lineworker.

The utility also contributes approximately $650,000 each year to the App State general scholarship fund, which supports the Chancellor’s Scholarship as well as other university scholarships.

To learn more about App State scholarships, including the NRLP Scholarship Program, visit scholarships.appstate.edu.

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New River Light and Power

For more than 100 years, Appalachian State University’s New River Light and Power (NRLP) — a nonprofit electric utility operated by the Division of Business Affairs — has provided power to Western North Carolina residents. Today, NRLP serves nearly 8,500 residential and commercial customers who reside in and near the town of Boone. In January 2022, the utility will begin purchasing its electricity from Carolina Power Partners — a partnership that opens greater renewable energy opportunities. In partnership with Appalachian’s Office of Sustainability, Facilities Operations and Renewable Energy Initiative, NRLP has assisted with various energy efficiency projects across campus, including installing solar panels and providing funding for the Broyhill Wind Turbine located on Bodenheimer Drive. The utility holds the American Public Power Association’s highest Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation for providing reliable and safe electric service, and approximately $650,000 of its budget is reserved annually for contributions to Appalachian’s general scholarship fund.

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Scholarships at Appalachian

Appalachian State University offers students the opportunity to receive a world-class education at an affordable rate, with an average of $25 million awarded to incoming, current and transfer students each year based on need, as well as academic and athletic achievement. On average, about $4.9 million in outside aid is awarded to App State students annually. App State’s Office of Student Financial Aid and University Scholarships assists students in learning about and applying for these university scholarship opportunities and also shares information about non-App State scholarships.

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About App State's New River Light and Power

For 110 years, New River Light and Power (NRLP) — a nonprofit electric utility operated by Appalachian State University — has provided reliable power to residents of Western North Carolina. The utility currently serves approximately 9,000 residential and commercial customers in and around Boone, including the university. NRLP is dedicated to expanding access to higher education, contributing approximately $650,000 annually to the university’s general scholarship fund. Additionally, the utility awards NRLP scholarships to support graduating Watauga County high school seniors pursuing an App State education, as well as those interested in pursuing a career in linework. NRLP holds the American Public Power Association’s Reliable Public Power Provider and Smart Energy Provider designations, recognizing its commitment to safety, efficiency, renewable energy and environmental stewardship. Learn more about App State’s New River Light and Power at https://nrlp.appstate.edu.

About Scholarships at App State

Appalachian State University offers students the opportunity to receive a world-class education at an affordable rate, with an average of $25 million awarded to incoming, current and transfer students each year based on need, as well as academic and athletic achievement. On average, about $4.9 million in outside aid is awarded to App State students annually. App State’s Office of Student Financial Aid and University Scholarships assists students in learning about and applying for these university scholarship opportunities and also shares information about non-App State scholarships. Learn more at https://scholarships.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.