On April 2, 2014, 26 area sophomores and juniors met in Springfield with approximately 300 students from across Illinois for the 2014 Illinois Electric and Telephone Cooperative Youth Day. Fourteen students represented Adams Electric Cooperative and twelve students represented Adams Telephone Co-Operative.
During Youth Day, students met with Senator John Sullivan at the State Capitol and toured the Old Capitol and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. At the end of the day, each cooperative group participated in an interview competition. Two trips were awarded by each cooperative for the 2014 Youth to Washington Contest. The judges were Kristin Banks and Ambyr Crawford from the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives. Winners were chosen based on applications and interviews.
The winners of Adams Electric Cooperative’s 55th Annual Youth to Washington contest were Connor Klingele of Liberty High School, son of Steve and Joyce Klingele, and Trevor Maiers of Payson Seymour High School, son of Tim and LeAnn Maiers. Miranda Taylor of Rushville-Industry High School, daughter of Gary and Beverly Taylor was named Alternate.
This is the eleventh year for Adams Telephone Co-Operative to participate in the Youth to Washington Contest. Winners representing Adams Telephone Co-Operative are Randallynn Smith of Southeastern High School, daughter of Randy and Cindy Smith, and Annika Lewis of Unity High School, daughter of Shawn and Shaila Lewis. Jamie Lam of Southeastern High School, daughter of Vicki Hull was named Alternate.
Alternates are eligible to go to Washington, D.C. if a winner is unable to attend and will receive $50.
Winners will join approximately 70 other high school students representing Illinois electric cooperatives on June 13, 2014 and travel to Washington, D.C. They will be accompanied by several chaperones and return to Springfield on June 20.
During the all expense-paid week in Washington, D.C., winners will join approximately 2,000 other students from 45 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.
Pictured above (l to r): Annika Lewis, Randallynn Smith, and Jamie Lam.
