COLUMBUS, Ohio — American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) is pleased to announce that Kenneth Smeltzer of Montpelier is one of five recipients of the 2026 Lyle B. Wright Scholarship.
This year, AMP is awarding 10 scholarships total to graduating high school seniors across both its scholarship programs.
Lyle B. Wright was a prominent public power advocate who served on the AMP Board of Trustees from 1979 until his death in 1986. The $3,000 Wright scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors whose households receive electricity from an AMP Member utility.
This year, 32 students were nominated for the Wright Scholarship, and the recipients were selected based on their scholastic records, personal achievements, and scores on a test about public power.
The son of Eric and Kendra Smeltzer, Kenneth is a graduating senior at Montpelier Exempted Village Schools and plans to attend Defiance College to study accounting. He is a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council, and a four-year letter winner in baseball, basketball, and golf.
“It is great to have a strong municipal electric community like Montpelier as home to one of this year’s Wright Scholarship recipients,” said AMP President and CEO Jolene Thompson.
“This year’s group of scholarship applicants was outstanding. On behalf of the AMP Board of Trustees and AMP management, I congratulate Mr. Smeltzer on his exceptional achievements and extend best wishes for success in his educational pursuits.”
The AMP Board of Trustees established the Richard H. Gorsuch and Lyle B. Wright scholarships in memory of public power leaders who contributed significantly to AMP and municipal electric systems in the region.
Since 1988, AMP has awarded $558,000 to high school seniors through the AMP Scholarships Program.