Aquila plans to give college scholarships of $500 each to about 20 students graduating from Kansas high schools in 2007.

To apply for a scholarship, download an application form at www.aquila.com/scholarships/ks.

The application deadline is March 16. Winners will be announced in May.

“Helping students afford higher education is an investment in the future of our communities and reflects our desire to provide energy for better living,” said Larissa Long, who works in Lawrence as Aquila’s community relations manager for Kansas. “The success of each community depends upon the quality of its leaders, and education is key.”

Students are eligible to apply for the scholarships if they:

¢ Have a parent or legal guardian who is a residential, commercial or industrial electric or natural gas customer of Aquila in Kansas.

¢ Rank in the top 25 percent of their graduating high school class, or score 21 or higher on the ACT, or 980 or higher on the SAT.

¢ Plan to work toward a bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university.

¢ Are not related – as a child, grandchild, brother, sister, stepchild, foster child or spouse or in-law – to a current or retired Aquila employee.

Aquila serves 175,000 natural gas and electric customers in Kansas. Natural gas operations are based in Lawrence; electric operations are based in Great Bend. Aquila provides electricity and natural gas delivery service to nearly 1 million customers in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.