PPL Montana is putting energy into Montana’s future by awarding $12,000 in scholarships to eight college-bound students through two scholarship programs.

"Education plays a critical role in creating strong economic growth and a high quality of life," said David Hoffman, PPL Montana manager of external affairs. "We are pleased to invest in Montana’s future through our scholarship programs, helping talented students become the state’s future leaders in engineering, science and the arts."

The PPL Montana Education Scholarship Program recognizes students with a minimum 3.25 grade point average who enter an accredited Montana college or university. Four students received these $2,000 scholarships based on their academic performance, extracurricular accomplishments, essays and letters of recommendation.

This year’s scholarship recipients are:

• Eric Dewey of Sheridan, son of Gordon and Julie Dewey, who will attend Rocky Mountain College in Billings.

• Tia Coleman of Cut Bank, daughter of Tip and Charlene Coleman, who will attend Montana State University in Bozeman.

• Megan Stitt of Helmville, daughter of Wade and Diana Stitt, who will attend Carroll College in Helena.

• Ian Robinson of Hamilton, son of Tom and Leslie Robinson, who will attend the University of Montana in Missoula.

A second program recognizes high school seniors who are sons and daughters of PPL Montana employees and retirees. Four students received these $1,000 scholarships based on their academic record, extracurricular accomplishments and letters of recommendation.

This year’s scholarship winners are:

• George W. Fahrenbruck of Forsyth, son of George G. Fahrenbruck, who will attend the University of Montana in Missoula. George G. Fahrenbruck, control room operator trainee, works at PPL Montana’s Colstrip plant.

• Jacqueline Fogerty of Great Falls, daughter of Lyle and Bonnie Fogerty, who will attend the University of Montana in Missoula. Lyle Fogerty, journeyman operator maintenance man, works at PPL Montana’s Great Falls Black Eagle and Rainbow hydro plants.

• Rachel Hofacker of Colstrip, daughter of Richard and Amy Hofacker, who attends Montana State University in Bozeman. Richard Hofacker, station lead mechanic welder, works at PPL Montana’s Colstrip plant.

• Katherina Christian of Colstrip, daughter of Linda and Jeff Hamilton and Steve and Kathy Christian, who will attend the University of Mary, in Bismarck, N.D. Linda and Jeff Hamilton are utility worker and maintenance apprentice, respectively, and Steve and Kathy Christian are senior environmental engineer and project analyst, respectively, all at PPL Montana’s Colstrip plant.

"These scholarships are just one of the many ways PPL Montana gives back to its communities," said Hoffman. "We also sell electricity at very competitive prices to Montana businesses, provide good-paying jobs to hundreds of Montanans and will contribute $23 million over the next 10 years for recreational and environmental projects on Montana rivers."

PPL Montana, a subsidiary of PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), has offices in Billings, Butte and Helena. With more than 500 employees, PPL Montana operates the coal-fired Colstrip and Corette power plants and 11 hydroelectric facilities along the Missouri, Flathead, Clark Fork and Madison rivers and Rosebud Creek. PPL EnergyPlus, another PPL subsidiary, operates a trading floor in Butte that markets and sells power in the wholesale energy market.

PPL Corporation, headquartered in Allentown, Pa., controls about 11,500 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets and delivers electricity to customers in Pennsylvania, the United Kingdom and Latin America.