Co-Mo Youth Tour finalists named

Nine area high school juniors have been selected to advance to the finals of the Co-Mo Electric Cooperative’s annual Youth Tour contest.

Co-Mo Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit electric distribution utility serving Central Missouri.

According to a Co-Mo news release, the cooperative sponsors three students each year to take part in a week-long trip to Washington, D.C., in June. The three local students will meet up with 1,400 students from around the country for sightseeing.

The finalists are Landon Isabell, of Warsaw High School; Kendra Wessing, of Pilot Grove C-4 School; Leah Marie Thomas, of Morgan County R-1 School; Hannah Tuttle. Cameron Backes and Jacquelyn Miller, all of Tipton High School, and TyleRe Goans, Justice Downings, and Donald Figgings, all of California High School.

The nine finalists were selected based on projects submitted to Co-Mo addressing the question: “What challenges do rural electric cooperatives such as Co-Mo face with the federal government’s push for green energy?” Judges chose the finalists from more than 100 entries without knowing each project’s author or the school the student attends.

In previous years, the students were asked to write an essay, but this year videos and PowerPoint presentations were accepted.

“Technology has changed how teenagers operate in the world,” Youth Tour Coordinator from Co-Mo Electric John Agliata said. “On top of that, there are some kids who are tremendously bright, but simply have skills in other areas besides essay writing.”

Goans submitted a video and Wessing chose to submit a PowerPoint presentation.

The final event will take place Nov. 19 at the First Baptist Church in Tipton. The finalists will present their projects, take a written test about electric cooperatives and answer questions from judges.

The runners-up will be invited to attend the annual Cooperative Youth Conference and Leadership Experience in Jefferson City in July.