Co-Op Students Travel to Springfield

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Published on March 31 2015 2:59 pm
Last Updated on March 31 2015 2:59 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

St. Sen. Andy Manar met with students representing Shelby Electric Cooperative (SEC) during the Illinois Electric and Telephone Cooperatives Youth Day in Springfield. More than 250 students from around Illinois had an opportunity to visit the State Capitol, view state government in action and question their legislators on key issues. They also were invited into the office of Secretary of State Jesse White and got the chance to meet David Nance, an Abraham Lincoln Presenter.

During lunch, Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti addressed students and chaperones and challenged them to take an interest in the political process and encouraged them to talk to their state senators and representatives about issues that interest them. Wyatt Reid, the 2014-15 Illinois Youth Leadership Council Representative from Rock Energy Cooperative, spoke about his experiences on the Youth to Washington tour and challenged attendees to maintain an interest in their cooperatives and the political process. While in Springfield, the students also visited the Old State Capitol, and Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. Several of the SEC students got the opportunity to meet Governor Bruce Rauner as he came out of his office to say hi and visit with them for a moment.

Shown (L-R) are: Front Row: Victoria Hudson of Cowden-Herrick High School, Samantha Degenhardt of Okaw Valley High School, James Hortenstine of Windsor High School, Juliana Mendenhall of Meridian High School, Morgan Powers of Shelbyville High School, Clint Dozier of Morrisonville High School, and Taylor Davidson of Morrisonville High School.

Back Row: Dalton Rueff of Cowden-Herrick High School, Andrew Althoff of Neoga High School, Mitchell Haddock of Windsor High School, Matt Buescher of Neoga High School, Senator Andy Manar, Jacob Gaugh of Stewardson-Strasburg High School, Brayton Wooters of Shelbyville High School, and Zach Bryson of Shelbyville High School.

After the Youth Day was over all the students representing SEC were interviewed for a chance to go on the Youth to Washington Tour, which takes place June 12-19. Of the 14 students, two were chosen as alternates and two were selected to represent the cooperative in Washington D.C. in June. Brayton Wooters from Shelbyville High School and Samantha Degenhardt from Okaw Valley High School were selected as winners of the trip. Victoria Hudson from Cowden-Herrick High School and Jacob Gaugh from Stewardson-Strasburg High School were chosen as alternates.

Youth Day is designed to introduce young rural leaders to state government. There were 26 co-ops from across the state represented at the event.