ANDALUSIA, ALABAMA (April 20, 2023) – The Lurleen B. Wallace Community College (LBWCC) Foundation announces the new $50,000 Wing Solar Scholarship by Origis Energy and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative. The endowment is a result of the Wing Solar project completed in Covington County, Alabama in March 2023. 

Administered by the LBWCC Foundation, The Wing Solar Scholarship will be given to high achieving students that demonstrate a financial need and are intending to pursue a degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) related program. 

The gift from Origis Energy, one of America’s leading renewable energy platforms, stems from the company’s commitment to making lasting contributions to the communities in which it works. 

“We are extremely grateful for the partnership and support from Origis and PowerSouth,” said Dr. Brock Kelley, LBWCC President. “We continue to see more students who are interested in STEM related careers, and this endowed scholarship will help students realize those opportunities.” 

“Origis is so pleased to support the widespread educational impact of the Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Alabama,” said Natacha Standaert, Origis Energy Foundation Manager. “STEM education is critical to the growing solar workforce in the U.S. We thank Dr. Kelley and his LBWCC team for their outstanding work, and the PowerSouth leadership for joining us to make this endowment consequential to educational goals in the state.”

“As an electric cooperative, we are structured around supporting the sustainability and development of our local communities,” said Gary Smith, President & CEO of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative. “Along with our distribution members, we are confident that investing in students has a lasting impact not only on their livelihood and academic experiences but on the future of our communities, as well. This scholarship supports PowerSouth’s mission to safely provide reliable, affordable power to promote development of the communities our members serve.” 

The Wing Solar Scholarship will allow recipients to accomplish their academic dreams and pursue careers in a STEM related industry. 

This scholarship will have far-reaching impacts that go beyond the individuals and families who benefit from them, opening new opportunities and strengthening the quality of life for our community. 

About LBW Community College

LBWCC is actively involved in addressing the ever-changing educational, economic, and cultural needs of the state. The College offers dual enrollment, technical training, 2-to-4- year transfer, adult education, and community education that prepares students for Alabama’s growing workforce. We work closely with our community leaders to produce the skilled workers needed in today’s economy. It is the policy of LBWCC that no individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of any impermissible criterion or characteristic including, without limitation, race, color, national origin, religion, marital status, disability, sex, age or any other protected class as defined by federal and state law. 

About LBWCC Foundation

The Lurleen B. Wallace Community College Foundation (LBWCC Foundation) was organized and incorporated in 1970 for the benefit of Lurleen B. Wallace State Junior College (now known as Lurleen B. Wallace Community College). The LBWCC Foundation is dedicated to assisting Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in the building of the endowment and in addressing, through financial support, the long-term academic and other priorities of the College. As stated in its articles of incorporation, the Lurleen B. Wallace Community College Foundation is a separately incorporated 501(c)(3) organization.   

About Origis Energy

Origis Energy is bringing clean and cost effective solar, energy storage and clean hydrogen solutions within reach for utility, commercial and industrial as well as public sector clients. The Origis team has worked to ensure the interests of all stakeholders are upheld in 170 projects worldwide totaling more than 5 GW to date of developed solar, energy storage and clean hydrogen capacity. Headquartered in Miami, FL, Origis Energy delivers excellence in solar, energy storage and clean hydrogen development, financing, engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) and operations, maintenance and asset management for investors and clean energy consumers in the U.S.  For more information visit www.OrigisEnergy.com  

About PowerSouth Energy Cooperative

PowerSouth is a generation and transmission cooperative that serves the wholesale energy needs of 16 electric cooperatives and four municipal electric systems in Alabama and northwest Florida. To maintain a standard of reliability and affordability, PowerSouth relies on a diverse mix of energy, including natural gas, coal, hydro and solar. It is PowerSouth’s belief that responsibly adding solar energy to traditional, baseload generation is the most balanced approach to serving its members. Collectively, the distribution members provide electric service to homes, businesses and industries in 39 Alabama and 10 Florida Counties. 

Media Contacts

LBWCC
Maggie Mash
334 488 3407
maggie@lbwcc.edu 

Origis Energy
Glenna Wiseman
786 893 2760
glenna.wiseman@origisenergy.com