People living within three Wichita zip codes can now apply for scholarships and grants provided by Westar Energy's parent company, Evergy, Inc.
Working with the Wichita Community Foundation, Evergy is awarding 10, $1,000 scholarships annually to students who live in zip codes 67208, 67214 and 67219 through the Evergy Scholarship Fund.
"These awards can be applied to tuition, books or fees for post-secondary education, including technical education and two-or-four-year colleges or universities throughout the U.S.," Evergy says.
The company says students must be seniors in high school to be eligible for the scholarships.
The effort from Westar's parent company comes after Westar received community criticism last September for placing large transmission poles in a northeast Wichita neighborhood.
Early this month, Westar announced it's establishing a $1.25 million fund at the Wichita Community Foundation to serve residents in the area, a move that is in response to those large power line poles installed last fall.
Westar says the poles will help provide more electricity to areas including Wichita State University and Wesley Medical Center, but neighbors in the area of 11th and Minnesota say the poles have engulfed their property and have risked their home's property values.