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By Shannon Jackson

Special to the Lowndes Signal

Southeast Gas recently announced its 2024 Give Back to Schools contribution of $133,000 to 20 public school systems in Alabama. 

Schools in Lowndes County plan to use their funds from this year’s Give Back to Schools allocation for a Back-to-School rally prior to the start of school in August. Lowndes County Public Schools Superintendent Samita Jeter and Fort Deposit Mayor and Southeast Gas Board Member Jacquelyn Boone worked together to determine this year’s funding designation. 

To date, local public schools received more than $1.8 million through the Give Back to Schools initiative and the more natural gas a school system uses, the more dollars that system receives. This program was established by Southeast Gas and its Board of Directors in 2010 and provides dollars to public schools based solely on their natural gas usage for the previous year. 

Board members work alongside Superintendents in each school system to determine the best way for funds to be allocated. 

“Most of my life has been spent serving others – through my own time as a band director for Enterprise City Schools, as a City Councilman, and for the past several years as Enterprise Mayor,” said Southeast Gas Board Chair and Enterprise Mayor William E. Cooper. “Through the Southeast Gas Give Back to Schools initiative we are serving public schools by helping add needed technology, funding STEM programs, assisting with the arts – an area close to my heart, and even assisting with some student athletic needs.”

The Give Back to Schools initiative is just one-way Southeast Gas is committed to building stronger communities. Southeast Gas President and CEO Greg Henderson said the company’s commitment to serve reaches well beyond these contributions, though. 

“Giving back to our local public schools is one-way Southeast Gas serves students and educators in our communities. These financial contributions are just one way we’re investing in our communities through local schools,” he said. “Our support of local schools isn’t just about financial support, though. We also provide in-kind contributions throughout the year to schools across our service area and provide scholarships to high school seniors who are making a difference.”

The Southeast Gas Community Service Scholarship is a competitive scholarship program for high school seniors attending public schools currently served by Southeast Gas. These scholarships are $1,500, and multiple scholarships are awarded each year. Last year 25 students received scholarships through this program. Applications for the 2024 scholarship are available on-line at the company’s website (southeastgas.com) and are due by March 8, 2024. 

School systems impacted by the Southeast Gas Give Back to Schools initiative are: Andalusia City Schools, Butler County Schools, Coffee County Schools, Covington County Schools, Crenshaw County Schools, Dale County Schools, Daleville City Schools, Dothan City Schools, Elba City Schools, Enterprise City Schools, Eufaula City Schools, Henry County Schools, Houston County Schools, Lowndes County Schools, Opp City Schools, Ozark City Schools, Pike County Schools, Pike Road Schools, Russell County Schools and Troy City Schools.

In addition to the direct financial support Southeast Gas provides to these schools, Southeast Gas employees volunteer dozens of hours each year to improve many of the campuses through construction assistance, landscaping, painting, gas appliance maintenance, light carpentry, tutoring, mentoring and many other activities. 

Southeast Gas provides natural gas service to 36 communities throughout Southeast Alabama, and is owned by 14 cities – Abbeville, Andalusia, Brundidge, Dothan, Elba, Enterprise, Eufaula, Fort Deposit, Greenville, Headland, Luverne, Opp, Ozark and Troy.