SPCHS Junior Alaina Olsen selected for Coast Electric 2019 Youth Leadership Program

Congratulations to SPCHS Class of 2020 Member Alaina Olsen for being selected to represent Coast Electric and the state of Mississippi in the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi’s 2019 Youth Leadership program!

Each year, high school juniors from Coast Electric’s service area, which includes Hancock, Harrison and Pearl River counties, are selected by their school counselors to participate in Co-op U, Coast Electric’s selection process for the program. This year, 26 of the area’s top students spent a day doing team-building activities, learning about cooperatives and participating in interviews in hopes of winning one of four coveted spots representing their local cooperative. Judges from other electric cooperatives in Mississippi evaluated the students and selected Bergmann, Calomese, Olsen and Thames to represent Coast Electric in a trip to Jackson next February and a trip to Washington, D.C., in June.

The program, administered by the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi, brings students from all over Mississippi together for a leadership conference in our state’s capital, where they interact with state legislators and enhance their leadership skills. During the trip to Washington, D.C., in June, Mississippi’s student representatives will be part of a group of more than 1,700 students from 47 states participating in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour. They will spend their time meeting with Mississippi’s elected senators and representatives, getting to know students from across the country and touring the city.

On being selected, Alaina said, “I am honored to have been chosen to represent St. Patrick and the tri-county area at the Youth Tour! The selection process was a fun and educational experience. I got to become friends very quickly with some amazing leaders during “getting-to-know-you” games and team-building exercises. I am very excited to go to Jackson and February and to the Youth Tour in June with Mary, Caleb, and Jordan!”

The youth leadership program is part of Coast Electric’s commitment to education and improving communities in south Mississippi.