2 Selected to Represent UEC In Washington, D.C.

Katelyn Bass, a junior at Ione Community School and Lauren Santoyo, a junior at Hermiston High School, were selected to represent Umatilla Electric Cooperative at the 2016 Washington, D.C. Youth Tour, from June 9-16, 2016.

Katelyn is the daughter of Gary and Lani Bass and resides in Boardman. Katelyn has maintained a 4.0 GPA during her high school years, and is very involved in her school and community. She plays volleyball, basketball, and tennis. Katelyn received the Scholar Athlete Award as a freshman and sophomore. This awards goes to those athletes that maintain a 3.5 GPA or better, and participate in one varsity sport. For volleyball and basketball, her team was chosen to be part of the Top 10 academic all-state teams sponsored by the OSAA Dairy Farmers of Oregon. She has received Outstanding

Achievement Awards in Biology, Physical Science, Band, and is in National Honor Society. She played the flute for five years and went to state last year with her band. By the end of her sophomore year she had a little over 20 college credits. Katelyn is also involved in 4-H and FFA where she shows her different breeds of fainting goats.

Lauren Santoyo is the daughter of Luis and Norma Santoyo and resides in Hermiston. Lauren has maintained a 3.8 GPA during her high school years. She is a member of Key Club, and is running for president of the DECA (Distributive Education Club of America) Club. She played volleyball during her freshman and sophomore year. She works at the school’s Student Store and Kennison Concession. She is an active participant in the youth group activities held at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church.

“We are excited to continue to promote this program and be able to find great candidates who will represent UEC in Washington, D.C.,” said Connie Shrum, Manager of Member Services.

Katelyn and Lauren will join 1,500 other students from all over the United States on a week-long educational trip hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience history at our nation’s capital.

Katelyn and Lauren will get to speak with Oregon’s state representatives at Capitol Hill, visit the World War II, Vietnam, Iwo Jima war memorials, the Smithsonian and Holocaust museums, hear motivational speakers, learn about electric cooperatives, and participate in many fun activities.

This opportunity was open to area high school juniors whose parents or guardians are members of Umatilla Electric Cooperative. Applications were available with high school counselors, our Hermiston and Boardman office, and website.

Texas Sen. Lyndon Baines Johnson inspired the Youth Tour when he addressed the NRECA Annual Meeting in Chicago in 1957. In 1958, a rural electric cooperative in Iowa sponsored the first group of 34 young people to go for one week to our nation’s capital.