AUGUST 2026
THE MESSENGER A Publication for North Arkansas Electric Cooperative Members
Operation Round Up® awards 20 scholarships North Arkansas Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up® program awarded scholarships to 20 recent high school graduates. Seventeen students will receive one-time scholarships of $1,000. Three students — Hunter Belvedresi, Marley Rohr and Laurel Smeltzer — each will receive $1,000 toward their college education annually for up to four years. High school seniors may apply for the next round of scholarships beginning Feb. 1. The application will be posted at naeci.com and available through high school counselors. Members can help fund future scholarships by enrolling their electric accounts in Operation Round Up. Participants agree to have their monthly electric bills “rounded up” to the nearest dollar. For example, a bill amount of $125.60 would become $126. To enroll your account(s), please call (870) 895-3221, email info@naeci.com or visit an NAEC office. Donations are placed in a trust and administered by a five-member independent board of community leaders. The volunteer board evaluates all requests and determines how Operation Round Up funds are distributed. More than $286,000 in college scholarships, grants to community organizations and disaster relief has been awarded. Nonprofits can download the application for a donation at naeci.com/operation-round-up.
Hunter Belvedresi Viola
Jackson Corp Mountain Home
Caden Delsoto Mountain Home
Olivia Fosness Mountain Home
Gale Gerundiano Highland
Avery Guthrie Mountain Home
Deanna Human Mountain Home
Owen Hyslip Highland
Rose Keen Salem
Anna Kellar Norfork
Ora Love Melbourne
Hannah Perdue Mountain Home
MaryElla Polston Salem
Haley Ramsey Highland
Rylee Roberts Mountain Home
Marley Rohr Melbourne
Laurel Smeltzer Mountain Home
Allison Stone Salem
Jackson Taylor Salem
Brandon Wilbur Norfork