2007 ETREYS Scholarship Winners
Youth delegates sponsored by Wood County Electric Cooperative Inc. (WCEC) at the 2007 East Texas Rural Electric Youth Seminar (ETREYS) held at Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, TX, June 25-29, brought home two scholarships. These youth joined approximately 120 other participants, each sponsored by one of eight East Texas electric cooperatives, to participate in the ETREYS program, which is designed to foster positive ideals, enhance leadership skills, and to teach the cooperative philosophy.
The schedule consisted of many teambuilding exercises, as well as presentations by 10 outstanding speakers, including two-time gold medalists Randy Snow, the first Paralympian to be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame; and retired professional New York Giants football player Keith Davis, among others.
The delegates that represented WCEC for ETREYS 2007 were Spencer Boyd, Pickton; Trent Chavira, Scroggins; Laci Jeter, Mt. Vernon; Stormy Ray, Hawkins; Danielle Reeves, Alba; Stephanie Roberts, Big Sandy; Pete Robles, Mt. Vernon; Kaycee Thomas, Como; and James Wilkinson, Alba. The group was lead by returning student and Youth Director, Anthony Bernardelli, a 2007 graduate of Lindale High School.
During ETREYS, Ray, Reeves, Roberts, Robles and Boyd placed in the top 40 on the energy battle test, and earned the right to compete in the Energy Battle Game Show before the entire delegation. Robles, a Mount Vernon High School Student, the son of Rosa Robles and Pablo Castillo, won the $750.00 Juan Nichols Scholarship. Jeter, also a student at Mount Vernon High School, and the daughter of James and Donna Jeter, was awarded the $500.00 Cooperative Scholarship. Boyd, a student at Como-Pickton High School, and the son of Angela Sevier, was chosen by his peers to represent WCEC at the 2008 seminar as a Youth Director.
WCEC CEO/General Manager Debbie Robinson said, “I commend all of these exceptional students for their participation, and for representing their cooperative members with showmanship and enthusiasm. These delegates exemplify the cooperative spirit, and we are proud of them all.”