Niangua student heads to Washington D.C.

Ashley Stephens, a Junior at Niangua schools is heading to Washington D.C. this summer in June

after competing in, and winning, an essay contest hosted by Webster Electric Coop. According to Ashley

Smith essay contest coordinator at Webster Electric, the contest has been running for at least the last 18

years and opens every year around December.

“We have a youth tour and a cycle tour. The youth tour is for juniors and the cycle tour is for

sophomores. Ashley Stephens competed in the youth tour and the winner gets to go to the Nation’s

capital. She is considered a delegate for the Webster Electric Co-op and she will meet other delegates

there from all over the united states,” said Smith.

The topic for this year’s essay contest: The February 2021 Polar Vortex and its Impact. The only

essay requirements were that the students talked about Webster Electric and how it effected our

community. “I found out about the essay contest from my English teacher. I competed in it last year and

won the cycle tour, so I knew I was going to compete again this year. I’m a year ahead in English, so even

though I’m only a Sophomore I was able to compete in the youth tour. I was competing with other kids

that are a year older than me,” said Ashley Stephens. “I do want to say that every time I do one of these

papers, I always think it’s super interesting to learn about Webster Electric and everything they do. Most

of the time I don’t pay attention to it. When I start researching it, I learn they do a lot for our

community.”

This is the first year since the COVID-19 pandemic that the winners of the essay contest have

been able to take the trip to Washington D.C. “The last two years we haven’t been able to send any

students to Washington D.C due to travel restrictions. The students instead have come to the Co-op and

done a virtual tour. This year we are excited to send the kids back to the capitol,” said Smith regarding

the upcoming trip. “We have chaperones that will be going with the students. The trip is all expenses

paid and starts on June 13 where all the delegates from across Missouri will meet in Columbia for a

special dinner and orientation. The next day they will be bused to STL to fly to the capitol. The delegates

will get to meet with Missouri congressional representatives and senators, visit the Arlington National

Cemetery and the Smithsonian Museum and so much more.”

“I’ve never been on a plane or anything before,” laughed Stephens when asked if she was

nervous. “I’m really excited.”

Read below for Ashley's winning essay.

A Frozen World

By Ashley Stephens

 When the world seemed to be frozen and snow surrounded all, we were able to have power when many weren’t as fortunate. This is all thanks to the great work of Webster Electric and the community banding together. While many other cities and states were experiencing rolling blackouts I was able to stay warm at home watching classic movies during the February 2021 Polar Vortex.

            On February 15, 2021 Webster Electric announced that if we didn’t reduce our power intake that rolling black outs were inevitable. Webster Electric has never been in a situation like this. Everything was new and unknown.  This was the moment when everyone went into action. 

My family and the rest of the community turned off lights and unplugged anything that wasn’t necessary. People at Webster Electric fought the frigid temperatures and made crucial decisions on the fly that ensured that power continued to flow. The next twelve hours were imperative. 

            As a community we were able to reduce our power usage to 104 megawatts, when the predicted amount was 117 megawatts. We experienced no rolling blackouts. This shows that even in the unknown when a community comes together a difference can be made. While the freezing temperatures continued, Webster Electric kept credible fast information flowing to the public, just like they kept the power flowing. This provided a sense of security to the community. 

            Many people battled frozen water lines and icy roads. Despite all that, people also built snowmen and drank hot cocoa because power was never lost. Our community made it through something that only happens once in a lifetime. Some came out of it with new knowledge and others with crazy stories. My experience of the polar vortex would have been a lot different if it wasn’t for the work of Webster Electric.