AEC (Adams Electric) photo:
(l to r): Peace Agbavito, Olivia Rodgers, and Paul Cornwell
ATC (Adams Telephone) photo:
(l to r): Eli Ripperda, Rylie Whitehead, and Faith Boylen
On April 3, 2019, 33 area sophomores and juniors met in Springfield for the 2019 Illinois Electric and Telephone Cooperative Youth Day. Twenty students represented Adams Electric Cooperative and thirteen students represented Adams Telephone Co-Operative.
After visiting the State Capitol, touring the Old Capitol and the Abraham Lincoln Museum, students participated in an interview competition. Two trips were awarded by each cooperative for the 2019 Youth to Washington contest. This year’s judges were Christina Harper, Connie Newenham, and Tootie Holmes from the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives. Winners were chosen based on applications and interviews.
The winners of Adams Electric Cooperative’s 60th Annual “Youth to Washington” contest were Olivia Rodgers from Quincy Senior High School, daughter of Chad and Kathleen Rodgers, and Paul Cornwell from Quincy Notre Dame School, son of Bill and Natalie Cornwell. Peace Agbavito from Rushville High School, daughter of Dela and Wilfried Agbavito was named Alternate.
Winners representing Adams Telephone Co-Operative are Faith Boylen from Brown County High School, daughter of Curt and Beth Boylen and Rylie Whitehead from Unity High School, daughter of James and Shannon Whitehead. Eli Ripperda from Central High School, son of Jarrod and Kristin Ripperda was named Alternate.
Alternates are eligible to go to Washington, D.C. if a winner is unable to attend. Alternates will receive $50.
Winners will join approximately 70 other high school students representing Illinois electric cooperatives on June 14, 2019 and travel to Washington, D.C. They will be accompanied by several chaperones and return to Springfield on June 21.
During the all expense-paid week in Washington, D.C., winners will join approximately 1,450 other students from 42 states for “Rural Electric Youth Week,” sponsored by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and electric cooperatives across the United States. Activities include touring the U.S. Capitol, Library of Congress, Arlington National Cemetery, Smithsonian Institute, Washington Monument and other national shrines. The group will also have an opportunity to meet their senators and representatives.
For more information on the Youth to Washington Contest, contact Adams Electric Cooperative at 800-232-4797 or Adams Telephone Co-Operative at 877-696-4611.
