PINEVILLE, La. – Cleco Corporation has awarded its Education Fund Scholarship for $500 to Taylor Whittington, senior at Pine Prairie High School.  The fund was established in 2011 to provide scholarships to Cleco employees and their dependent children who pursue higher education.

"We are pleased to make the first award from our Education Fund to Taylor,” said Judy Miller, senior vice president of corporate services and internal audit. “To support the educational efforts of our employees and their families, Cleco’s shareholders make contributions to the fund in honor of retiring board members and officers. Although this fund is new to Cleco, we are pleased that it will be available for generations to come for our employees and their children.”

Whittington plans to attend the University of Louisiana in Monroe, study kinesiology and become a physical therapist. She is the daughter of Craig and April Whittington. April Whittington is a Securities and Exchange Commission reporting specialist for Cleco.

The Central Louisiana Community Foundation administers the fund and oversees the Scholarship Advisory Committee in selection of a recipient. The Scholarship Advisory Committee includes a member of the foundation and Cleco representatives who review applications on the basis of academic performance, personal accomplishments, extracurricular activities, community service, work history and other stated criteria. Applicants’ names were not included in the final review and selection process.