ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. - Seven local high school graduates have earned Progress Energy scholarships this year, in recognition of their accomplishments.Progress Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, awards the scholarships annually to qualifying college-bound children of company employees.
Six students earned Merit Scholarship Awards, worth $1,500 per year, renewable annually for three additional years of full-time study at a four-year accredited institution.
Merit Award recipients include:
- Francis Chapman, of DeBary, the daughter of Mark and Barbara Chapman and a graduate of DeLand High School. Francis will attend the University of Florida and plans to study political science. Mark Chapman works at Progress Energy’s DeBary Plant.
- Sarah Cowling, of Lake Mary, the daughter of Jim and Kathy Cowling and a graduate of Lyman High School in Longwood. Sarah will attend the University of Florida and plans to study electrical engineering. Jim Cowling works in training and workforce development at Progress Energy’s in Winter Garden office.
- Gina Crisafulli, of Spring Hill, the daughter of Stephen and Marie Crisafulli and a graduate of River Ridge High School in New Port Richey. Gina will attend the University of Florida and plans to study accounting and business. Stephen Crisafulli works on energy efficiency projects with Progress Energy from the company’s New Port Richey offices.
- Dominic Muzzi, of Beverly Hills, the son of Robert and MaryLou Muzzi and a graduate of West Port High School in Ocala. Dominic will attend Florida State University and plans to study piano performance. Robert Muzzi works at Progress Energy’s Crystal River 3 Nuclear Plant.
- Brenton Muscott, of Hernando, the son of Mark & BJ Muscott. Brenton, who was home schooled, will attend the College of Central Florida in Ocala and plans to study mechanical engineering. Mark Muscott works in the distribution department with Progress Energy in the Wildwood area.
- Elizabeth Valentine, of St. Petersburg, the daughter of George Valentine and Catherine Valentine, and a graduate of St. Petersburg High School IB. Elizabeth will attend Boston College and plans to study political science. George Valentine works in fleet services at Progress Energy’s Lake Mary facility.
In addition, one student earned the Bob McGehee Memorial Scholarship Award, worth $1,000 per year, renewable annually toward study at an accredited two-year vocational-technical school or community college. The recipient Jaimi O'Shea, of Orlando, the daughter of Daniel and Michelle O'Shea and a graduate of Boone High School in Orlando, plans to attend Valencia College in Orlando to study business. Daniel O'Shea works in the distribution department with Progess Energy out of Orlando. The McGehee Scholarship is named for the former Progress Energy chairman and CEO who died in 2007.
Recipients of both the Merit and the McGehee scholarships were selected from a group of more than 200 talented applicants. Progress Energy Florida utilizes Scholarship America, a nonprofit student aid organization, to select the award recipients based on exceptional academic accomplishments, leadership abilities and activities at school and in the community.
Progress Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides electricity and related services to more than 1.6 million customers in Florida. The company is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Fla., and provides approximately 10,000 megawatts of diverse electric generation to serve a territory encompassing more than 20,000 square miles, including the cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater, as well as the Central Florida area surrounding Orlando.