“Concern for Community” is the cooperative principle that won the hearts of most finalists in Cuivre River Electric Cooperative’s 47th Annual Youth Tour Final Competition on April 8.Twelve local students presented their essays touting “The Power of Cooperative Principles” with judges and guests attending the event.Students’ speeches and cooperative quiz scores determined the most important contest of the evening, the selection of Cuivre River’s delegates to attend the National Youth Tour Conference in Washington, D.C. this summer. Students chosen as Cuivre River Youth Tour delegates include Alexa Jones and Madison Jones of Francis Howell High School, Jessica Hoelting of Troy Buchanan High School, Kierstan McBride of Warrenton High School, Alexandra Hudelson of Winfield High School, and homeschool student Hannah Baalman.They will travel among 100 Missouri delegates June 12-18, meet with more than 1,500 delegates from across the United States, visit Congress, tour Capitol Hill, and see national historic memorials and landmarks. Sarah Hoelscher of Warrenton High School will serve as a Youth Tour first-alternate and Michele Norton of Silex High School will serve as the second-alternate, should any of these students be unable to attend.The six runners-up in the contest received a $250 Cuivre River Youth Tour scholarship to the university or college of their choice. They include Michele Norton of Silex High School, Krista Krekeler and Alyssa Shields of Timberland High School, Sarah Hoelscher and Baylie Fowler of Warrenton High School, and Kasey Kaimann of Winfield High School.“Among 387 contest entries, it was interesting to learn the principles our youth valued the most. In addition to Concern for Community, Education and Democratic Member Control were also popular choices,” said Lonnie Tucker, communication specialist who emceed the event.The essays were judged based on the student’s cooperative knowledge, composition, originality, grammar and neatness. The 12 finalists took a cooperative knowledge-based quiz, and then presented their essays to a board of distinguished judges and special guests. Their presentations were judged on the student’s speaking ability, poise and personality, appearance and length of presentation.The local contest, now in its 47th year, received 387 student essays from 20 area high schools.Teachers honored at this year’s banquet included Kim Potts of Francis Howell High School, Carmen Watson of Silex High School, Jeremy Boesch and Kevin Porter of Timberland High School, Rob Calvin of Troy Buchanan High School, Amanda Franke, Kristine Heimburger and Casey Olearnick of Warrenton High School, and Sharon Bader of Winfield High School.Cuivre River's 2015 Youth Tour delegates are, from left, Alexa Jones and Madison Jones of Francis Howell High School, Hannah Baalman of Baalman Homeschool, Alexandra Hudelson of Winfield High School, Jessica Hoelting of Troy Buchannan High School, and Kierstan McBride of Warrenton High School. The delegates will travel to Washington, D.C., June 12-18, to attend the National Youth Tour Conference. Submitted photo.
