Cuivre River Electric Cooperative (CREC) is proud to announce the twelve area high school juniors who have been selected as the CREC Youth Tour finalists.They are Rebecca Purcell of Francis Howell North High School, Sarah Turner of Lutheran High School, Kacie François and Richard Schneider of Timberland High School, Anna Chandler, Leo Kniffen and Justin Rice of Warrenton High School, Karley Kaimann, Kari Rogers and Abigail White of Winfield High School, and homeschool students Emily Baalman and Clare Citrowske.The 12 finalists were selected from 336 student essays focusing on “My Favorite Cooperative Principle.” The seven cooperative principles include Voluntary and Open Membership, Democratic Member Control, Member Economic Participation, Autonomy and Independence, Education, Training and Information, Cooperation among Cooperatives and Concern for Community. The essays were submitted by 22 local high schools and judged on the student’s cooperative knowledge, composition, originality, grammar and neatness.The CREC Youth Tour Final Competition and Awards Banquet will be held on April 20 at the CREC branch office in Lake Saint Louis. The 12 finalists will take a cooperative knowledge based quiz worth 50 points, and then present their winning essays to a board of distinguished judges and special guests. Their presentations will be judged on the student’s speaking ability, poise and personality, appearance and length of presentation.The six students with the highest combined competition scores will receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D. C., June 10-16, to attend the National Youth Tour Conference and meet with more than 1,500 delegates from across the United States. The Cuivre River Youth Tour delegates will join more than 100 Missouri delegates and experience government firsthand by visiting the nation’s capital, meeting their representatives and senators, and seeing national historic memorials and landmarks.The six runners-up will receive a $500 scholarship to the college or university of their choice. Fourteen high school teachers will be recognized for their continued support of the CREC Youth Tour program. They are Michelle Dunaway and Mike Storm of Francis Howell, Jordyn Kiel of Francis Howell North, Amy Klein of Lutheran, Carmen Watson of Silex, Jeremy Boesch, Bridget Campbell, Amanda Moody, Megan Sellers and Kevin Porter of Timberland, Rob Calvin of Troy Buchanan, Amanda Franke and Kristine Heimburger of Warrenton, and Sharon Bader of Winfield.Cuivre River Electric Cooperative is the largest member-owned electric distribution cooperative in Missouri. It provides service to more than 62,500 residential, business, commercial, industrial and agricultural members in Lincoln, Pike, St. Charles and Warren counties. For more information on the Youth Tour or Cuivre River Electric Cooperative visit www.cuivre.com or contact Lonnie Tucker at (800) 392-3709, extension 4837.Cuivre River Electric