Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Applications for the Lake Mitchell Home Owners & Boat Owners Association’s Education Scholarship Fund are now open, and local students and teachers are encouraged to apply. The Lake Mitchell HOBO hosts an annual Poker Run on the lake that raises money to support the Education Scholarship Fund.

In June, over 100 volunteers helped put on the Poker Run, and 456 people participated in the event where they traveled by boat to seven of nine dealers that were setup around Lake Mitchell to see who would draw the best hand. The top three hands won a cash prize. The event raised $12,550 for the Education Scholarship Fund that will be turned into funds for local student scholarships and teacher grants.

Last year, the HOBO association funded several thousand dollars of educational grants to teachers at several schools — Central of Coosa County High School, Clanton Intermediate School, Jemison Elementary School, Verbena Annex and Verbena High School. Teachers in Chilton and Coosa Counties can apply for a grant now. The grants will be issued in October based on the merit of each application, and they “are designed to be used for small-scale educational projects not otherwise funded, and not to exceed $500 per project,” a press release from the Lake Mitchell HOBO said.

The association will also award two scholarships in the amount of $2,000 to two seniors attending a Chilton or Coosa County public school. The scholarships are for students who are planning to attend a two- or four-year college or trade school in the fall of 2025. The students must submit an application form, participate in one or more of the Lake Mitchell Clean-up Day events, write an essay and interview with the scholarship committee. The upcoming clean-up day is Oct. 5 from 8 a.m.-noon at Higgins Ferry Park.

The grant and scholarship application forms for students and teachers can be found online at www.lakemitchellhobo.org/scholarshipsgrants.html, and must be received no later than Oct. 15.

For more information, contact Marie Butts at 334-546-2888 or mbutts1224@gmail.com.