Local electric co-op sponsors students to Youth Leadership Congress
Local high school students were among more than 140 teens from Wisconsin who took part in the Youth Leadership Congress (YLC) at the UW-River Falls campus in July.
Local high school students were among more than 140 teens from Wisconsin who took part in the Youth Leadership Congress (YLC) at the UW-River Falls campus in July.
Sixteen of the 140 teens, sponsored by Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services (PPCS), represented River Falls, Ellsworth, Plum City, Prescott and Spring Valley high schools.
Understanding the cooperative difference and identifying traits of leaders are just two of the topics that highlighted the 46th YLC.
Through a mix of workshop sessions, hands-on activities and team-building experiences, participants were exposed to a variety of real-life issues and were given the opportunity to identify and explore their leadership potential.
Professional speakers, college educators, teenage peers and cooperative employees provided participants with information and tools to deal with the important issues high school students face today.
Dr. David Trechter, UW-RF agricultural economics professor, opened the conference with an interactive session on “The Cooperative Difference.” Also featured at this year’s YLC was nationally acclaimed speaker Craig Hillier, who enlightened students about being leaders, stretching their creativity and discovering the value of cooperation.
Carmen Croonquist, director of career services with UW-RF, demonstrated dining etiquette in a professional business setting as they enjoyed a five-course dinner.
For 46 years, the WECA Division of Cooperative Network, Wisconsin’s electric cooperatives and UW-RF have co-sponsored this event to educate students about the value of cooperatives and how the cooperative business principles can be applied in their everyday lives.
Austin Saari of River Falls and Aaron Langer of Plum City High School were among six students elected to the YLC Youth Board by their peers and will develop and plan next year’s YLC.
Board members will also represent Wisconsin at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., next June.
Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services is an energy services cooperative located in Ellsworth, offering electric utility and appliance products and services to homes and businesses. It also offers propane products and services through its subsidiary, Pierce Pepin Propane Services.
For more information, call 800-924-2133 or go to www.piercepepin.com.
Tags: k12 eduction, pierce pepin cooperative, business, daily updates
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