Each winter, we invite high school seniors whose households receive service from MEC to apply for one of four $1,000 post-secondary education scholarships. Awards are based on a video essay as well as academic performance, extra-curricular activities, community involvement, employment and/or honors/awards.
In 2019, we challenged scholarship applicants to submit a video telling us what they would put in a time capsule to be opened in 2029.
Meet Seth
Seth Bunce wants to be a lineman and this fall he'll head to Georgia to start on that path at the Southeast Lineman Training Center. His experiences as an Eagle Scout, outdoor enthusiast and athlete have prepared him well for a career of restoring and maintaining power no matter what the weather brings.
Son of Scott and Rachel Bunce and graduate of Mattawan High School, Seth discovered a passion for working with his hands as part of the construction program at the Van Buren Tech Center. This past year, he helped build a home for a future family. “I really enjoyed the interactive nature of the program. I got to actually do things rather than reading about them in a book. We were allowed to make mistakes, fix them and learn from them,” he said.
He earned varsity letters for track and wrestling but rugby had a special impact on him. “Even though I only played one year, it was one of the most fun things I've ever done. I learned a lot and loved the team bonding.”
Seth also participated in 4-H for a number of years, which cemented his strong work ethic as he noted: “You have to do what you have to do to get the job done right. I spent 3-4 hours every single day each summer working my pigs.” That hard work helped him earn Senior Showman for Swine his freshman year.
It also helped prepare him to become a member of the Order of the Arrow (OA), a sort of honor society for Scouts. OA members must successfully complete a challenging induction that involves maintaining silence while camping with small amounts of food and performing service work – an impressive feat for any teenager!
Seth makes a great role model for his classmates and encouraged other kids to explore all their options while in high school. “Don't stress if you don't figure out what you want to be until later. It takes time. Take as many fun classes as you can and research the trades. Leave no stone unturned,” he advised.
Congratulations Seth.