News Releases

Local Students Honored in Walton EMC Sponsored Electrification Event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2006

Contact Heather Hodges, 770/266-2408 or Greg Brooks, 770/266-2307

MONROE, Ga. – FFA members from Oconee, Walton, Henry and Newton counties put their electrical skills to the test at the Sub-Region FFA-EMC Electrification Career Development Event (CDE) at Walton Electric Membership Corporation's (EMC) Monroe headquarters. The event promotes safe, efficient electrical wiring skills.

Walton EMC's Howard Turner (left) honors Oconee County High School’s Vaughn Collett and FFA Advisor Sidney Bell for their success in the Electrification Career Development Event.

Vaughn Collett, from Oconee County High School, took top honors at the competition, receiving the highest score in each of the three competition components, which include problem solving, wiring and a demonstration. Collett received a perfect score on the wiring problem.

Floyd Atha of Monroe Area High School took second place. Tanner Herrington of North Oconee High School won third place.

Andrew Peterson and Blake Strickland also competed for North Oconee. Participants from Loganville High School included Brandon Willett and Jacob Ridgedell.

Collett, Atha, Herrington and Willett are eligible to compete in the North Region competition December 9 in Jefferson.

The contest, sponsored annually by Walton EMC, begins with a wiring problem. Participants translate a wiring diagram, select the necessary wiring materials for the problem and then install a complete electric circuit.

Upon construction of the circuit, students answer problem-solving exercises based on their understanding of the National Electric Code. The students end with a demonstration before a panel of judges explaining the steps to complete an electrical wiring task.

Georgia's EMCs partner with the Georgia Department of Education to sponsor and host FFA Electrification CDEs across the state. FFA is a national organization of agricultural education students.

Walton EMC is a customer-owned electric cooperative, serving 110,000 accounts in 10 Northeast Georgia counties. Its subsidiary, Walton EMC Natural Gas, serves customers statewide.

# # #