Local Students Awarded Broyhill Leadership Learning Opportunity By Blue Ridge Electric
For Immediate Release
Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Public Relations, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383 ext. 3213; Pager:1-800-471-1323; or E-mail: Renee Whitener
Lenoir, North Carolina (August 8, 2005) – Summer vacation has been an opportunity for several local students to continue learning and obtaining critical skills that will last a lifetime through the Broyhill Leadership Conference at Belmont Abby College.
Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation sponsored seven students in its service territory to this highly acclaimed five-day conference specifically designed for students in grades 10 through 12.
“I can’t say enough about the Broyhill Leadership Institute and how it benefited Andrew,” said Paula Pope, mother of Andrew Pope, who is a Hibriten High School rising senior who attended the conference. Andrew lives in the Kings Creek community with his parents David and Paula Pope.
“Andrew learned a lot about goal setting and leadership in general—it was an exceptional opportunity,” Pope said.
It was at the camp that he set his goal of winning a state title in wrestling, added Andrew. Andrew has played football and wrestled the last three years while at Hibriten. This year he plans to focus on wrestling, where he represents the heavyweight class.
“I also believe the conference also helped Andrew to begin thinking through what he would like to achieve in life as far as his career goals, and what he’ll need to do to attain them,” Pope said, adding that he is already working on setting up an internship to explore the area in which he’s interested.
The Broyhill Leadership Conference is designed to lead students to an understanding and usage of goal setting, motivational techniques, group dynamics, communication, and cooperation. Recipients are typically nominated by their school guidance counselors, and nominations are accepted by Blue Ridge Electric each spring.
Other students sponsored for this year’s conference by Blue Ridge Electric included:
Dustin Houck of Ashe County High School and son of Dana and Brenda Houck; Devon Holt of Ashe County High School and son of Mike and Helen Holt; Catherine McGrady of Alleghany High School and daughter of Stanley and Linda McGrady; Ericharist Lipford of West Caldwell High School and son of Eric and Anthany Lipford; Jamie Hendrick of Hibriten High School and daughter of Yolanda Dula; and Chequieta Sloan of Hibriten High School and daughter of Mary Sloan.
Blue Ridge Electric supports local communities and places a specific emphasis on support of local education. The electric cooperative is affiliated with Touchstone Energy and serves some 68,000 consumers in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, and Wilkes, and Alexander counties.
