Ava High Student Among Finalists In Washington, D.C. National Youth Tour
The 2012 Youth Tour winners who will represent WRVEC in Washington, D.C., in June, from left to right, are Sarah Copeland, Cody Watson and Kylie Tannehill.
BRANSON–Three area Ozarks youth will represent White River Valley Electric Cooperative and travel to Washington, D.C., with the national Youth Tour from June 16 to 21. Kylie Tannehill, Reeds Spring High School; Cody Watson, Forsyth High School; and Sarah Copeland, Ava High School were chosen from 11 finalists at a banquet on March 30 at the Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks.
The other 8 finalists were Makayla Rance, Ava Victory Academy; Eric Hover, Branson High School; Mahala Overby, Chadwick High School; Kursten Suter, Gainesville High School; Matthew Fry, Ozark High School; Tori York, Spokane High School; Sam Lemons, Hollister High School; and Ashley Hesterberg, Nixa High School.
High school juniors from participating schools across WRVEC’s five-county service area each submitted an essay or video that answered the question, “What moment in American history do you wish you had been a part of and what would you have contributed?”
One winner from each participating school was chosen by a panel of three judges. The first round judges included Leon Combs, Bradleyville author; Carol Harris, local writer; and Carol Bruneau-Malson, Branson community volunteer.
Each of the 11 finalists took a quiz about electric cooperatives and presented their essay or video in front of friends, family and a second panel of judges at the banquet.
The second round of judges included Kevin Hurd, Cuivre River Electric Cooperative; Jim McCarty, Association of Missouri Cooperatives; and Janet Ellis, KRZK radio personality. At the closing of the evening the three winners were announced.
Tannehill, Watson and Copeland will join more than 1,400 other winners from electric cooperatives across the country for an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., where they will tour national monuments, visit with elected officials and experience government in action.
