On April 17, 2013, 21 area sophomores and juniors met in Springfield with approximately 250 students from across Illinois for the 2013 Illinois Electric and Telephone Cooperative Youth Day. Twelve students represented Adams Electric Cooperative and nine 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 2013 Youth to Washington Contest. The judges were John Freitag and Kristin Banks from the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives. Winners were chosen based on applications and interviews.
The winners of Adams Electric Cooperative’s 54th Annual Youth to Washington contest were William “L.B.” Cornwell, son of William and Natalie of Quincy and, Terra Scranton daughter of Pam Thurman and Robert Scranton of Quincy. Caroline Cramsey, daughter of Patrick and Ann Cramsey of Loraine was named Alternate.
This is the tenth year for Adams Telephone Co-Operative to participate in the Youth to Washington Contest. Winners representing Adams Telephone Co-Operative are Anthony Holtschlag, son of Cathy Holtschlag of Camp Point and Chance Vose, son of Mitch and Diane Vose of Griggsville. Ashley Barlow, daughter of Robert and Shonnie Barlow of Nauvoo 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 14, 2013 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 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.
Adams Electric Cooperative
2013 Youth Tour Winners:
(l to r): William “L.B.” Cornwell, Terra Scranton, and Caroline Cramsey
Adams Telephone Co-Operative
2013 Youth Tour Winners
(l to r): Anthony Holtschlag, Ashley Barlow, and Chance Vose