Since 2010, The Southeast Alabama Gas District has given thousands of dollars to local public schools who are also SEAGD customers.

Over the next few weeks, SEAGD is returning more than $150,000 to area schools as part of the company’s Give Back to Schools initiative.

Troy City Schools, under the direction of Superintendent Dr. Lee Hicks, received $15,729 for the 2016 school year.

SEAGD provides dollars back to 19 school systems, representing more than 50 schools that use natural gas. The Give Back to Schools initiative is designed to provide dollars to public schools based solely on their natural gas usage for the previous year. So, the more natural gas a school system uses, the more dollars that system will receive.

While this program was initially approved by the SEAGD Board of Directors for only two years, SEAGD’s Board chose to extend the program for subsequent years to assist the schools.

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

“Last year, we added a Community Service Scholarship as part of our partnership with local schools,” said SEAGD Board Member and Troy Mayor, Jason Reeves. “Last year, students in our area who received the scholarship was Andrew Cole Wilson from Charles Henderson High School. We’re looking forward to working with another group of outstanding students again this year.”

The SEAGD Community Service Scholarship is a competitive scholarship available to high school seniors attending public schools currently served by SEAGD.

The scholarships are $1,500, and will be awarded to up to 21 students representing the 21 public high schools currently served by SEAGD. Students from Troy City Schools who plan to attend a technical college, community college or a university in the Fall are encouraged to apply.

School systems impacted by SEAGD’s 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, Russell County and Troy City Schools.

In addition to the direct financial support SEAGD has provided to these schools, SEAGD volunteers have spent hundreds of hours working to improve many of the campuses through construction assistance, landscaping, painting, gas appliance maintenance, light carpentry, tutoring, mentoring and many other activities.

SEAGD provides natural gas service to 35 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.