Three area high school seniors claimed $3,500 worth of scholarships funded by Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative in the annual competition for the children of cooperative members.

Buckeye REC announced that Luke Hunter Humphreys of Ironton High School was chosen as the recipient of the first-place scholarship award of $1,500. Hunter is the son of Darrell and Sarah Humphreys of Ironton. As the first-place winner of the Buckeye Rural 2019 Children of Members scholarship, Humphreys advanced to statewide judging in Columbus. Humphreys was awarded a $1,550 scholarship in Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives’ competition, held April 11.

The second-place scholarship award of $1,200 went to McKenna Pannell of Fairland High School. She is the daughter of Brian and Abbie Pannell of Scottown.

Third place and an $800 scholarship went to Tyler Shelton of Ironton High School, the daughter of Steve and Charlie Shelton of Kitts Hill.

Twenty-three students representing 24 electric cooperatives in Ohio competed for more than $36,000 in scholarship awards.

The state’s electric cooperatives, all Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, serve more than 380,000 homes and businesses in 77 of Ohio’s 88 counties.