Winners announced for 2016 Youth Tour
Branson, Missouri – Three area students will represent White River Valley Electric Cooperative and travel to Washington, D.C., with the national Youth Tour June 10-16. Thomas Pointer from Gainesville High School, Adam Barker from Home School and Zach Richardson from Ozark High School were chosen from 12 finalists at a banquet on April 1 at the Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks.
The other nine finalists were Melissa Goshorn, Ava Victory Academy; Abigail McCleary, Bradleyville High; Thuy Do, Branson High School; Shyanne Sena, Chadwick High School; Kristian Clark, Forsyth High; Janis McHenry, Hollister High School; Katyalynn Bourgeois, Reeds Spring High; Danielle Hopper, Spokane High School and Dillon Collins, School of the Ozarks.
High school juniors from participating schools across WRVEC’s five-county service area each submitted an essay or video that answered the question, “What are you passionate about, and why?”
The 2016 Youth Tour winners, from left to right, who will represent WRVEC in Washington, D.C., in June, are Thomas Pointer, Adam Barker and Zach Richardson.
The 2016 Youth Tour finalists from left to right are (FR) Melissa Goshorn, Abigail McCleary, Shyanne Sena, Thuy Do, Kristian Clark, Janis Henry, Katyalynn Bourgeois (BR) Danielle Hopper, Zach Richardson, Dillon Collins, Adam Barker and Thomas Pointer.
One winner from each participating school was chosen by a panel of three judges. The first round judge panel included Leon Combs, local author and businessman; Robin Jackson, producer for Jackson+Appleton, video production company; and Daphne Marshall, school and community volunteer.
Each of the 12 finalists took a quiz about electric cooperatives and presented their essay in front of friends, family and a second panel of judges at the banquet. Judges included Jeff Hull, Member Services Director at Barton County Electric Cooperative; Janet Ellis, KRZK On-air radio personality; appearing again Robin Jackson with Jackson+Appleton and one of last year’s winners, Emmaline Koch from Bright Futures Christian Home School. The three winners were announced at the close of the evening.
Pointer, Barker and Richardson will join more than 1,200 other winners from electric cooperatives across the country for an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., where they will tour national monuments, visit with elected officials and experience government in action.
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