Joctan Antonio Romero Sanchez, (Courtesy)
GIBBON — Joctan Romero of Gibbon was named the recipient of Dawson PPD’s $2,000 Pathways to Power Scholarship.
He plans to study civil engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln this fall. Romero is the son of Antonio Romero Melendez.
Romero is an engaged student involved in several volunteer activities, including participating in the Gibbon Blood Drive, designing Spanish lessons for elementary students through Bilingual Book Buddies, and contributing to The Compass Project—an initiative supported by the Rural Schools Collaborative that promotes post-secondary readiness.
In his application, Romero stated that he became interested in electrical power because it “doesn’t just appear out of thin air; someone has to produce and distribute it.”
“My decision to pursue civil engineering is driven by a desire to strengthen the physical infrastructure of the electric utility industry,” he wrote. “The electric utility industry will continue to evolve as technology and energy needs change. Civil engineering provides the knowledge and tools needed to build stronger, smarter, and more efficient infrastructure.”
“We recognize the talent and potential of the youth in our region,” stated Communications Specialist Chelsea Gengenbach. “We are dedicated to offering opportunities that enable them to develop successful careers within rural Nebraska.”
Since 2017, the Dawson PPD Pathways to Power Scholarship (formerly the Dawson PPD STEM Scholarship) has been awarded to one student each year.
Dawson Public Power District is a Nebraska rural electric utility system that serves south central Nebraska along the Platte River Valley. Organized in 1937, Dawson PPD provides service to more than 23,000 electric meters and maintains over 5,800 miles of power lines. The district’s 5,800 square miles territory includes all of the rural areas in Dawson and Buffalo Counties, approximately two-thirds of Gosper County, a third of Lincoln County and parts of Custer, Sherman and Frontier Counties.
Dawson PPD also serves several villages including Hershey, Maxwell, Brady, Farnam, Eustis, Elwood, Eddyville, Smithfield, Overton, Sumner, Miller, Riverdale, Amherst, Odessa and Pleasanton. To learn more, visit www.DawsonPower.com.
