OPU/SMMPA Utility Trade Scholarship
Owatonna Public Utilities (OPU) and Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA) are pleased to introduce a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded to one qualified student to help them achieve their academic dreams.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be a student in OPU’s service territory who plans to attend a higher education institute, for the first time, to obtain a degree, a diploma, or a certificate.
- Individuals who participated in a PSEO program in high school are eligible.
- Scholarship amount cannot exceed the cost of the program.
Timeline:
- Application Deadline: Friday, April 10, 2026 4:00 p.m.
- Submit in person or by mail to: Attn: Jeri Blazek, Owatonna Public Utilities, 208 S. Walnut Ave., Owatonna, MN 55060
- Finalists notified the week of April 13th.
- Live interviews with finalists conducted the week of April 20th.
- Finalist award announced by May 11th.
Applicable forms and more details:
MMUA Utility Workforce Scholarship
MMUA is offering up to five $1,000 scholarships for students pursuing utility-related programs, including powerline/lineworker, gas operator, water and wastewater operator, broadband, GIS specialist, and other utility-specific fields.
Eligibility: Must live in Minnesota and complete the application (linked below), including two open-ended questions about your passion for the utility field and your knowledge of municipal utilities.
To apply, you’ll also need two letters of recommendation from a mentor, employer, or teacher, sent directly to sdau@mmua.org.
Applications must be submitted to the attached link by May 15th, 2026.
