Neuqua Valley grad awarded $1,000 IMUA Scholarship
Naperville resident and 2021 Neuqua Valley High School graduate Vedanth Ganesh has been awarded a $1,000 college scholarship by the Illinois Municipal Utilities Association.
The son of Balaji and Lakshmy Ganesh of Naperville, he was one of four finalists whose energy-related essays were chosen by a six-member IMUA Scholarship Program Judging Panel this past April.
Ganesh was presented his award certificate and $1,000 IMUA Scholarship Program check by City of Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico and Naperville Director of Electric Utility and IMUA Board Member Brian Groth at the Tuesday (June 1) night meeting of the Naperville City Council.
Ganesh plans to attend Indiana University this fall.
Previous Naperville winners have included John "Jack" Williamson (2017), Carissa Bella Cavicchioni (2019) and Catherine Noelle Sorenson (2020). Naperville also is among the IMUA's long-time leaders, participants and financial supporters of the 20-year-old scholarship program.
"We're proud to partner with the IMUA in helping provide a measure of financial assistance in support of a student's college educational and career aspirations," Groth said. "Both IMUA and the City of Naperville are dedicated to fostering an educational environment for all students, one which promotes a greater awareness of energy-related issues and which demonstrates the vital role the public power industry plays in today's business world. It's also one which recognizes that today's students are tomorrow's leaders," he concluded.
Essays written by this year's four winners were chosen from among 60 entries submitted by eligible high school seniors in IMUA member communities statewide.
The remaining three finalists in this year's essay competition are: Kassandra Estrella, a 2021 graduate of Rock Falls Township High School in Rock Falls; Riley Trendler, a 2021 graduate of St. Charles North High School in St. Charles; and, Lily Conkle, a 2021 graduate of Massac County High School in Metropolis.
Since its inception in 2000, IMUA's Scholarship Program has awarded more than $55,000 to 96 students from 29 different IMUA member-communities statewide.
Organized in 1948, the Illinois Municipal Utilities Association (IMUA) serves as the statewide trade organization for Illinois' municipal utility systems. It is comprised of, and represents the unified interests of, 48 municipally-owned and operated electric, natural gas, cable, water, wastewater treatment and telecommunications utilities throughout Illinois, including the City of Naperville.
In addition, the Association has 2 Affiliate Members and 48 Associate Members/Vendors, the latter of which range from consultants, engineering firms and electric supply/sales contractors to manufacturers, construction companies, solar and wind-energy companies and businesses providing environmental, billing and utility rate-design services.