WAKEENEY — Five high school juniors will receive a $250 college scholarship, and the opportunity to travel to Washington or Steamboat Springs, Colo., through the Western Cooperative Electric youth contest program.
The winners were selected based off their combined scores in three areas: essay writing, personal interview, and electric cooperative knowledge.
Jonathan Spachek, Ellsworth High School, son of Kurt and Linda Spachek; and Ethan Reever, Otis-Bison High School, son of TJ and Kristi Reever, are the top two qualifying entrants in this year’s contest, winning the all-expenses-paid trip to Washington sponsored by Western and Kansas Electric Cooperatives Inc.
Spachek and Reever will represent Western at the nation’s capital from June 18 to 25. These students will have the opportunity to meet their U.S. representatives and senators, tour the White House, and visit many monuments, memorials and museums.
Alicia Phlieger, Hays High School, daughter of Scott and Dawn Phlieger; and Samantha Robben, Hoxie High School, daughter of Doug and Kim Robben, are the third- and fourth- place winners who will attend the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp in Steamboat Springs, Colo., from July 10-16 sponsored by Western and KEC.
Phlieger and Robben will join 100 other students from Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming to develop leadership skills, mimic their own cooperative, and tour a coal mine and a power plant.
Fifth place winner Carlee Flax, Western Plains High School, daughter of Kevin Flax, Ransom, will serve as an alternate to the trips and will receive the $250 Darrell Brown Memorial Scholarship.
