DREMC announces 2024 writing contest winners

Duck River Electric is proud to introduce the 10 high school juniors participating in the 2024 Washington Youth Tour, a week-long tour of our nation’s capital in June. Students are awarded the tour based on their winning stories submitted through DREMC’s annual writing contest.

“We congratulate the achievements of these impressive youth,” said DREMC’s Communication Specialist Connie Potts, who serves as an advisor during the tour. “We’re pleased that DREMC takes an active role in offering educational opportunities for our youth, such as the Washington Youth Tour, to allow them to experience this once-in-a-lifetime trip.”

Students participating in the writing contest not only tour Washington, D.C. but are also eligible to compete on a state level for scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.

Each year, DREMC invites high school juniors, who receive electric service from the cooperative, to write short stories of up to 900 words about electric cooperatives and how they serve their communities. This year’s contest theme was titled “Electric Cooperatives Connect” and encouraged students to focus on how electric cooperatives have far-reaching impacts on Tennessee communities through investments in energy, education, broadband, economic development and more.

The story written by Emalee Stokes was submitted to the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association to compete on the statewide level for a scholarship. In her story, she shares her thoughts on how “Electric Cooperatives Connect” with the following excerpts:

“The cooperative’s commitment to the community went beyond power homes; it extended to nurturing dreams, fostering education, and creating an environment with opportunities to thrive. When a community is connected through reliable and forward-thinking utilities, it paves the way for possibilities and a brighter, more sustainable future for all.”

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Contest submissions were judged by Tennessee Valley Public Power Association (TVPPA) staff members. TVPPA, based in Chattanooga, TN, is a nonprofit, regional service organization representing the interests of electric utilities operating within the Tennessee Valley Authority service area.

“We appreciate TVPPA’s assistance in selecting this year’s winners,” said DREMC interim President and CEO Troy Crowell, “and we appreciate the schools in our service area for allowing DREMC to offer this writing contest to their students.”

“We applaud these winners and wish them continued success in their future endeavors. DREMC is committed to being a partner in the communities we serve, and the writing competition opens a door for us to provide this opportunity to the students.”