The old adage that it takes a village to raise a child is reflected in Avista’s commitment to supporting educational opportunities. We are part of the village that makes up each community in our service territory. And providing donations and grants that fund K-12 and higher education programs -- in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and seeding long-term energy conservation behaviors in kids that complement educational goals in reading, math and science – is the path we’ve chosen to help prepare children for an innovation-rich economy and assure their success in achieving future career goals.

Textbook learning comes alive for Avista Scholars

She’s young, bright, pretty and well-spoken. Miss America? Not this time. She’s Emily Hnatishin, a junior, majoring in electrical engineering at Gonzaga University. What makes her someone we want to tell you about is the love of math and science that propelled her into the traditionally male-dominated world of engineering. And what helps her pursue that challenging course of study is the financial assistance and mentoring opportunities she is receiving through the Avista Scholars program. The mission of the Avista Scholars program is to promote excellence in the fields of math, science, technology and engineering, leading students to become innovators, problem solvers and diverse, talented employees of our future. Scholarships are offered by colleges and universities in Avista’s service territory in the areas of electrical engineering, management information systems, line construction, civil engineering technology and other similar majors. For Emily, a 2008 graduate of North Kitsap High School in Poulsbo, Wash., the program has provided more than financial assistance -- it has given her the opportunity to work at Avista on projects that make her textbook learning come to life.

Representative Grants