Local high school students Erin Hart who attends Parkview Baptist High School, David Jones of Central High School, Emily Flanders of Zachary High and home-schooled student Jacob T.

Jolibois each won an all-expense paid trip this June to Washington, D.C. as the 2009 winners of the Dixie Electric Membership Corp. (DEMCO) Rural Electric Co-op Youth Tour Essay Contest.

The Youth Tour Essay Contest is an annual event that this year included essay entries from more than 300 students throughout DEMCO's seven-parish service area. Each student who participated wrote an original essay on one of three topics: "As President of the United

States, I Would", "Electricity & Me," and "I can make a positive impact in my

community by...?"

The four winners were selected on March 3 during an evening banquet honoring the 12 finalists, their families, teachers and school principals. The banquet was held at White Oak Plantation in Baton Rouge.

Erin Hart is the daughter of David and Julie Hart of Baton Rouge; Jacob T. Jolibois is the son of Todd and Valerie Jolibois of Greenwell Springs; David Jones is the son of Juanita Webb of Baker, and Emily Flanders is the daughter of Chris and Vicki Flanders of Zachary. The other eight finalists included: Jacee Blades, Haley DePrato, Ardean Leonard, Lara Murray and Carole Shockley who all attend Parkview Baptist High School; Dustin Carlino and Paige Martin,

who attend Redemptorist High, and Abby Mann, who attends Zachary High.

David A. Latona, Manager of Member & Public Relations at DEMCO, served as master of ceremonies at the banquet. He introduced DEMCO CEO John Vranic and Co-op directors Leslie Falks and Ann Samuel who took part in the event. He also introduced Sandy Stockwell, Director of Member Services and Youth Tour Coordinator with the Assn. of Louisiana Electric Co-ops which conducts the annual youth tour.

East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Melvin "Kip" Holden, the featured speaker, weaved the words of each student?s essay into his remarks and urged the students to always follow their dreams by applying the hope and faith expressed in their essays as they move forward in life. He praised their parents, teachers and principals for the encouragement and guidance they

provided. He commended DEMCO and its board of directors for having the vision to promote the annual youth tour that showcased the talents of local students.

Sponsoring teachers and principals attending the banquet for this year's finalist judging included: Ms. Lynn Younger from Central High, Ms. Linda Purcell from Parkview Baptist High, Mr. Dan Reynolds from Redemptorist High, as well as Ms. Charlotte Blanchard and Ms. Dorothy Triplett of Zachary High. The Jolibois family represented the CHEF Home School Organization at the event.

Mayor-President Holden and DEMCO CEO John Vranic presented each of the students with a certificate as a finalist in the DEMCO Youth Tour contest. Special presentations were also made to Mayor-President Holden for his continued support of the Youth Tour program and to Harold Talbort, a veteran employee of the Advocate who had served as one of the essay judges for over a decade.

Each finalist was judged on the oral presentation of his or her essay. The finalists also completed a short test on their knowledge of DEMCO and rural electrification.

DEMCO's Youth Tour winners will join about 28 other Louisiana students in late-March for the Louisiana Youth Tour Leadership Conference to be held in Baton Rouge. During the conference, the students will learn more about cooperative business principles, form and operate a mini-cooperative business, and will also learn about the generation, transmission

and distribution of electricity.

The same Louisiana Youth Tour students will leave for a weeklong trip to Washington, D.C in mid-June. While in Washington, D.C., June 12-19, the Louisiana Youth Tour participants will

visit the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Supreme Court, National Archives, Arlington Cemetery, and many other historic buildings and landmarks. They will also join about 1,500 other Youth Tour participants from 43 different states to learn more about electric

cooperatives.

2009 marks the 31st year DEMCO has sponsored students in the Youth Tour program. DEMCO pioneered Louisiana participation in the Rural Electric Youth Tour in 1978 when it sent the first

students from Louisiana to Washington, D.C.

The purpose of the Youth Tour program is to provide outstanding youths with an insight into how their national government operates.

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