LUCERNE, Calif. – California Water Service is now accepting applications from eligible students in its service areas for the company’s fourth annual college scholarship cycle.

In total, $60,000 in scholarships for college and vocational-technical education will be awarded for the 2017-18 school year, with two top scholarship prizes equaling $10,000 each.

Scholarship recipients will be determined by academic achievement, community service and financial need.

The scholarship program, which is funded through California Water Service Group’s philanthropic giving program, not ratepayers, will be administered by Scholarship Management Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

To be eligible for a scholarship, students or their parents must live in a Cal Water service area, plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college or vocational-technical school, and not already possess a degree or diploma from an accredited two- or four-year college or vocational-technical school.

“At Cal Water, we are committed to improving the quality of life in the communities we serve and making good things happen. We believe that an investment in students’ education is an investment in the future leadership of our local communities,” said Local Manager Darin McCosker. “I encourage all eligible students in our service areas to consider applying.”

Students interested in learning more about the scholarship program or applying should visit www.calwater.com/scholarship .

The deadline to apply for this scholarship period is May 1. The scholarships will be awarded this summer.

Cal Water serves approximately 1,900 service connections in the Redwood Valley area and about two million people through 480,300 service connections in California.

The company, which has provided water service in the area since 2000, was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Water Utilities in the West” in 2016 by J.D. Power in its inaugural Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study.

Additional information may be obtained online at www.calwater.com .