White River Valley Electric Cooperative has announced the winners of the 2023 Youth Tour Essay Competition. 

Alieah Youngblood of School of the Ozarks will join Abigail Fulnecky and Matthew Martin of Nixa as the area representatives that will join more than 1,200 other winners from electric cooperatives across the United States at the Youth Tour taking place in Washington, D.C. in June.

The three winners along with other nominees from Bradelyville, Branson, Forsyth, Lutie, Sparta, and Reeds Spring were the finalist in the essay contest that White River and other electric cooperative put on around the country. 

The full press release from WRVEC is below:

White River Valley Electric Cooperative (WRVEC) is proud to announce the winners of the 2023 Youth Tour essay competition in which three area students will represent WRVEC and travel to Washington, D.C.

The 2023 winners are Abigail Fulnecky (Nixa), Matthew Martin (Nixa), and Alieah Youngblood (School of the Ozarks). The winners were chosen from a group of 10 finalists during WRVEC’s annual Youth Tour banquet held on March 31 at the College of the Ozarks.

The other finalists were Jackson Curtis (Branson), Dallas DuVall (Forsyth), Bayleigh Guidry (Lutie), Reese Hejlek (Reeds Spring), Rajan Raghani (Branson), Rilee Swearengin (Bradleyville), and Kaylee Williams (Sparta).

High school juniors from participating schools in White River Valley Electric Cooperative’s five-county service area submitted an essay or video that answered the question, “How will the Cooperative Power my Future?”  At the banquet, finalists were given a quiz about electric cooperatives followed by a presentation of their essays in front of friends, family, and a panel of judges.

“The level of thought and detail all of the students put in their presentations was truly impressive,” said Cassie Cunningham, WRVEC Vice President/Chief Growth Officer-Marketing and Communications. “We look forward to watching all of these students grow as leaders in our communities.”

The three finalists will join more than 1,200 other winners from electric cooperatives across the United States at the Youth Tour taking place in Washington, D.C. from June 12-18. Fulnecky, Martin, and Youngblood each received an all-expenses paid trip to the Nation’s Capital which includes touring national monuments, visiting elected officials, and experiencing the government in action.  In addition, they will receive a $1,500 scholarship from the Operation Round Up Trust board and an invitation to attend WRVEC’s annual meeting.

The annual Youth Tour contest is open to students who live and attend school in White River Valley Electric Cooperative’s service area, or who have WRVEC service in their homes. Submissions for the 2024 program will be accepted next spring.

 For more information about the Youth Tour program, visit https://www.whiteriver.org/community/youth-programs/youth-tour/.