Local students win Washington, D. C., trip
Two local high school juniors will take a week-long, all-expenses-paid trip to the nation’s capital this summer, courtesy of West Florida Electric Cooperative. Audra Marie Creel, of Grand Ridge High School, and Stewart Price, of Graceville High School, are winners of WFEC’s 2002 Youth Tour competition, held March 7 at Falling Waters Country Club in Chipley. Ashley Denise Melzer, of Sneads High School, was named alternate.
Creel and Price will join other students representing electric cooperatives from throughout the country at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour. The trip will include a breakfast with congressional representatives, a Potomac River cruise, and visits to several historic sites, including the U. S. Capitol Building, the White House, Ford’s Theatre, Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Holocaust Memorial Museum.
High school juniors from a dozen schools throughout WFEC’s service area in Holmes, Washington, Jackson and Calhoun Counties vied for the trip to the U. S. capital. The contestants were chosen by their high school principals or guidance counselors to represent their schools in the competition. The contest is limited each year to eleventh-grade students whose parents or guardians are WFEC consumers, or members. WFEC treated all the competitors to a two-day trip to Tallahassee Feb. 20 and 21, to tour the old and new state capitols, meet government officials and observe the legislature in session.
A three-judge panel of experts from other electric co-ops quizzed the students individually about their knowledge of WFEC, the rural electrification program and energy facts, then evaluated the students’ responses, communication skills, poise and personalities. Following the interviews, the participants and their guests enjoyed a banquet, and previous Youth Tour contest winner Casey Gurganus Miles briefly shared some insights and commended the contestants on being chosen to represent their schools.
The Youth Tour program’s purpose is to provide public recognition to outstanding young people, and to acquaint high school students with governmental activities on a local, state and federal level. The winners of WFEC’s Youth Tour competition may compete against winners from other co-ops in Florida to represent the state on the national Youth Leadership Board.
Other WFEC contestants were Tracey Renee Adams, Altha HS; Andrea Rebecca Mims, Bethlehem HS; Summer Lynne Elliot, Blountstown HS; Marc King, Chipley HS; Amanda Michelle Brooks, Cottondale HS; Alyssa Callahan, Holmes County HS; Brandon Taylor, Marianna HS; Debra Diane Cruce, Ponce de Leon HS; and Theresa White, Poplar Springs HS.
Shown, from left, are WFEC Youth Tour alternate Ashley Denise Melzer, WFEC Trustee Ellis Nichols, WFEC Youth Tour winner Stewart Price, WFEC Trustee John C. Patrick, WFEC Youth Tour winner Audra Marie Creel and WFEC Trustee A. C. Miles.
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