In Windsor and beyond, education has always been a cornerstone of community strength. This spring, Community Electric Cooperative (CEC) helped reinforce that foundation by awarding six deserving high school seniors with scholarships through the Education Scholarship Foundation of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC).
These scholarships—made possible through years of cooperative dedication and newly-formed community tributes—are more than financial aid. They are a testament to the power of legacy, vision, and service.
A Tradition of Educational Support
Three of the scholarships were awarded in honor of Worth M. Hudson, the first chairman of the VMDAEC Education Scholarship Foundation. These long-standing scholarships, ranging from $1,500 to $2,500, were presented to:
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John Butler of Isle of Wight Academy
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Abrie Dulaney of Tidewater Academy
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Reese Mumford of Windsor High School
John Butler, who plans to study Agricultural Business Management at NC State University, carries the weight and pride of generations before him. “I hope to be the sixth generation of my family to farm in Isle of Wight County,” he shared. “This scholarship is helping me reach a school that will teach me to succeed not just for myself, but for my community.”
Abrie Dulaney, inspired by her grandmother’s battle with cancer, is heading to Radford University Carilion to pursue respiratory therapy. “I can’t describe how hard it is to see a loved one struggle to breathe,” she said. “If I can make that part easier for someone else, I will have truly helped.”
Reese Mumford will begin her path toward a career in criminal justice at Tidewater Community College with plans to transfer to Old Dominion University. Her drive and determination reflect the cooperative’s goal to empower the next generation of leaders.
A Legacy of Service Lives On
This year also marked the introduction of a heartfelt new scholarship fund: the Brenda Mansfield Memorial Fund, honoring a woman who dedicated over four decades of service to Community Electric Cooperative. Mansfield, who passed away in December 2023, retired just six months earlier after serving as CEC’s Manager of Member Services for 25 years.
In her honor, three additional students received $1,500 scholarships:
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Logan Everett of Southampton Academy
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Callie Hearn of Isle of Wight Academy
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Emma Moore of Windsor High School
Each recipient reflected the values Mansfield upheld—dedication, compassion, and community pride.
“I was extremely grateful and humbled,” said Everett, who will study kinesiology at Longwood University, with the aim of entering the field of cardiovascular health. Hearn, who will also attend Longwood to study nursing, dreams of becoming a midwife. “Being selected for a scholarship from an organization that’s so rooted in my community is incredibly meaningful.”
Emma Moore, heading to Liberty University for interior design, expressed heartfelt gratitude. “I will never forget this moment as I push through college,” she said. “It means the world.”
A Cooperative Commitment
“This is one of the most rewarding things we do,” said CEC President and CEO Steven A. Harmon. “Supporting young people as they take their next steps after high school is vital. These scholarships represent our commitment—not just to individual students, but to the strength and future of our entire region.”
VMDAEC President and CEO Brian Mosier echoed that sentiment: “Electric cooperatives are guided by Seven Cooperative Principles. The fifth principle—Education, Training, and Information—comes alive through this scholarship program. We are investing in future leaders, creators, and caregivers who will help power their communities in every sense of the word.”
With the addition of the Brenda Mansfield Memorial Fund, the program now carries not just opportunity, but legacy. It ensures that Mansfield’s spirit of service continues to shine through the achievements of the young people she helped uplift.
For those interested in supporting the VMDAEC Education Scholarship Foundation and helping future students like these, donations can be made at www.vmdaec.com/scholarship.
