Teens
  Apply With a Video to Win an Action Packed Trip to DC!
One high school student from WCEC's 9-county service territory can win an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. by applying now! This trip, called the Government-in-Action Youth Tour, is a youth leadership program sponsored by Wood County Electric Cooperative and organized by Texas Electric Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
 
About 125 of Texas High School students and chaperones from across Texas will spend over a week together immersed in what has been called a memorable and life-changing experience by past participants. The trip will begin with a day in Austin to include tours and events. Delegates will then travel to Washington, D.C. and join up with approximately 1,200 Youth Tour participants from across the country seeing historical sites and memorials. 
 
To apply, candidates should download the official application. Once completed they should follow the submission instructions and then create a short one to three minutes video on the topic: The Next Big Thing: My Cooperative and our Future Together.
 
Do a little research, but also be creative and have fun. Rural electrification has come a long way since the 1930s. It powers our lives to include our necessities and our conveniences. In 1938, the founders of WCEC could not have dreamed of the possibilities and comforts that their actions have delivered to our region today through the gift of electricity. Step into those shoes and imagine what will be possible 25 years from now in 2042. Be credible, while imagining and dreaming of how our electric cooperative will power the future

  
WCEC Awards $6,000 to Adult Learners

The winners of Wood County Electric Cooperatives (WCEC) annual scholarships for adult learners pursuing post-secondary education have been chosen. Member applicants age 21 or over submitted an essay describing their educational goals and their future plans. The three winners of $2,000 scholarships each are: Kamie Bishop, Alba; Pam Gambrel, Winnsboro; and Shanna Hayes, Quitman.
 
Bishop, a mother of three, works in admissions at Christus Trinity Mother Francis where she is passionate about providing better health care. Kamie volunteers her time to Special Kids' Farm and Ranch Day in Golden and for the benefit of the Golden Sweet Potato Festival. She and her husband Justin are members of the First Baptist Church of Alba. She attends Tyler Junior College and is pursuing a degree in Healthcare Administration.
 
Gambrel is an A ssistant Principal at Winnsboro Elementary School. She and her husband Eric are the parents of two college students. Pam volunteers her time in support of Camp Deer Run and she also teaches bible classes at Winnsboro Church of Christ. She is attending Abilene Christian University where she is pursuing a Doctorate in Occupational Leadership.
 
Hayes, the mother of four, is a fulltime pre-k paraprofessional at Quitman Elementary School. She is an active member of the Myrtle Springs Baptist Church. Shanna is also Vice President of the Quitman Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization. She is attending Stephen F. Austin in pursuit of an Elementary Education degree.
 
Of the recipients, WCEC CEO/General Manager Debbie Robinson said, "We are so pleased to offer these scholarships to adult members each year. All of the applicants are already contributing to our communities in positive ways while furthering their education. They are an inspiration, and this program is a way for us to support their industrious natures."  

Safety Tips  
 
Operating a space heater is not recommended while you are sleeping or if you will not be home. A space heater can quickly go from a source of comfort and warmth to a fire hazard. In fact, according to the National Fire Protection Association, space heaters are involved in 79% of fatal home fires. For good reason, these heaters should only be used when safety measures can be observed and upheld.
  

 
For more safety tips visit our Safety & Consumer Tips
Energy Efficiency Tips 
 
  According to the Consumer Electronics Association, the average household owns 24 electronic products. These products are responsible for 12 percent of household electricity use. You can lower the amount of electricity these products use by purchasing ENERGY STAR-certified products. For example, certified ENERGY STAR video/audio equipment is up to 50 percent more efficient than conventional models. 
  

For more energy efficiency tips visit our Energy Savings Center.

Wood County Electric Cooperative | [email protected] | http://www.wcec.org