Six area residents were among the 85 high school students from across Missouri who participated in the Missouri Electric Cooperative CYCLE (Cooperative Youth Conference and Leadership Experience) program July 16 through 19 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Jefferson City.
Sponsored by Intercounty Electric Cooperative, area attendees included Hayden Riggs, Houston; Timothy Norris, Licking; Katelyn Redker, Mountain Grove; Olivia Park, Rolla; Ava Ennis, St James; and Joseph Cook, Plato.
Each year in July, this action-filled four days provides high school students opportunities to learn first-hand what it is like to be involved in politics, the cooperative form of business and being a leader. The program included nationally known speakers and time at the Missouri State Capitol learning how a bill goes through the process to become a law.
To learn more about electric cooperatives, the group was divided up into teams that competed in various events like the “build a cooperative” game. Another highlight was hearing from the Rachel’s Challenge Organization. Rachel’s family and friends speak to youth around the world about Rachel’s legacy of being a positive role model to everyone she met in life.
Students also toured the Missouri State Penitentiary and saw a live powerline demonstration, as well as several electric vehicles at Central Electric Power Cooperative’s headquarters. For the first time in CYCLE’s history, the conference was extended to four days, with the extra day including a trip to St. Louis to tour the City Museum and enjoy an evening at Dave & Buster’s.
The CYCLE program is in its 21st year and is a recipient of the National Community Youth Service award for the top youth program among all electric cooperatives in the country.
For more information about AMEC youth programs, contact director Chris Massman at cmassman@amec.org or go to www.moyouthtour.com/cycle.