Contact: NOVEC Public Relations, 1-888-335-0500, customerservice@novec.com
MANASSAS, Va. ― Christina Anton, a high school senior
from Clifton, Va., has earned a $500 student service grant as part of a
nationwide project coordinated by the National Rural Electric Cooperative
Association (NRECA) in partnership with "generationOn," a global youth service
organization.
Anton will partner with the
Fairfax County government and the Clifton Betterment Association to use the
grant to help fund maintenance of a wooded area known as 8-Acre Park, which is
near her home.
Anton explained, "With increased concern about tick-borne illnesses, very few
people visit 8-Acre Park in the summer. As a result, bushes along the trails
and camping area have become overgrown. By removing excess vegetation, we'll
contribute to both Lyme Disease prevention and increased use of the park by
community residents."
Anton learned about the generationOn grant opportunity while representing the
Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) during NRECA's annual Electric
Cooperative Youth Tour, which was held June 14-18, 2015.
"For 50 years, America's electric cooperatives have invested
in our students by sending youth delegates to Washington, D.C., thereby
allowing some of our best and brightest students to gain first-hand insight," said
Stan Feuerberg, president and CEO of NOVEC. Christina's parents are NOVEC members.
"Students are our beacon of hope for the future," he
continued. "This grant program builds on that investment, giving our students
the tools to expand their résumés while applying what they've learned to directly
benefit their communities."
Mary Howell, Youth Tour director with the Virginia, Maryland
and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives, which represents NOVEC and 14
other electric cooperatives in three states, added, "This project will help Christina
learn valuable hands-on leadership skills at the same time. We're honored to be
able to help Christina give back, and look forward to watching her grow into a
future leader."
Upon completion of her project, Anton plans to work with
Virginia State Delegate Tim Hugo to increase awareness of how Virginia
residents can prevent tick-borne illnesses while enjoying outdoor activities.
A total of 23 grants were awarded as part of NRECA's generationOn
grant program. Grant winners were chosen from a pool of applicants, all of whom
participated in the 2015 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour.
About the Electric
Cooperative Youth Tour
The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has brought high school
students to Washington, D.C., for the past 51 years to participate in
leadership training, discuss issues with elected officials, jumpstart their
national peer network, and tour Washington, D.C. Students apply and are
selected for this program by their local electric cooperatives. Nearly 50,000
students have participated in the program over the years. For more information,
visit http://www.nreca.coop/what-we-do/youth-programs.
About generationOn
generationOn is a global youth-service movement that ignites the power of
children and teenagers to make their mark on the world. As the Points of Light
youth-service enterprise, generationOn inspires, equips and mobilizes youth to
take action through generationOn service clubs, schools, youth organizations,
campaigns, and youth leadership initiatives. It also provides tools and
resources to young people, families, and educators to help the world's youth
change the world and themselves through service. For more information, visit
generationon.org.
