To recognize talented Montana students and encourage them to continue their education, PPL Montana has awarded more than $12,000 in scholarships to nine college-bound students based on their academic record and extracurricular accomplishments.

“PPL Montana’s commitment to education is based on a simple principle: It’s our corporate responsibility to help parents and schools prepare tomorrow’s leaders,” said Lisa Perry, PPL Montana’s community affairs manager. “Education is the foundation for a strong economy and for outstanding public leadership.”

The company also supports education by awarding grants for environmental education projects, funding education initiatives through its Community Fund, offering curricula that support classroom activities, and matching employee gifts to eligible high schools, colleges and universities.

“Our goal through all of these efforts is to make a difference for today’s students and to support workforce development,” Perry said.

PPL Montana’s Education Scholarship Program provides $2,000 scholarships and recognizes talented students who plan to attend an accredited Montana college or university. This year’s recipients and their college choices are:

• Stacey Ray of Denton, who will attend Montana State University-Bozeman.
• Anna Lee Stitt of Drummond, who will attend Carroll College, Helena.
• Chelsea Hands of Bigfork, who will attend Montana State University-Bozeman.
• Jessica Ludwig of Billings, who will attend Montana State University-Billings.

The Family Scholarship Program is earmarked for high school students who are sons or daughters of PPL Montana employees and retirees. Scholarships of $1,000 were awarded to:

• Lindsy Martens of Colstrip, who will attend Rocky Mountain College.
• Brian Menahan of Colstrip, who will attend Montana State University-Billings.
• Tyler Peterson of Butte, who will attend Montana State University-Bozeman.
• Allison Tocci of Whitehall, who will attend the University of Montana, Missoula.

In addition, Terina Stacks, a sophomore at Montana State University-Billings majoring in math education, received $650 from the PPL Montana Women’s Softball Endowment fund. The fund was established at the university in 1999 with a $10,000 contribution from PPL Montana. A committee from the university selects the recipient.

PPL has 500 employees in Montana who generate and sell electricity. PPL Montana operates coal-fired power plants at Colstrip and Billings, as well as 11 hydroelectric plants along West Rosebud Creek and the Missouri, Madison, Clark Fork and Flathead rivers. It has a combined generating capacity of more than 1,200 megawatts and has offices in Billings, Butte and Helena. PPL EnergyPlus operates a trading floor in Butte that markets and sells power in the wholesale and retail energy market. PPL Montana and PPL EnergyPlus are subsidiaries of PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL).