2009 Leadership Through Learning Youth Program Sponsored by NECA
FRED and NECA are teaming up to provide rural students the learning opportunity of a lifetime. The Leadership Through Learning program provides a hands-on approach to education. High school juniors and seniors from across the U.S. are invited to spend an all expense-paid week in our nation’s capital to learn about government, civic affairs and telecommunications regulation as well as to meet students their own age from all parts of the country.

For the eighth year in a row, NECA sponsored the Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED) Leadership Through Learning Youth Program. From April 19- April 24, 2009, 14 high school juniors and seniors who live in or attend school in an OPASTCO member’s service area will travel to Washington, D.C., on this all-expense-paid trip. The students hailed from all parts of the country— from Vermont to Oregon!

2009 Leadership Through Learning Program Participants
and Nominating Telephone Companies

Corey Westfall
Hancock Telephone Company
Nineveh, NY

Atticus Wright
Loretto Telephone Company, Inc.
Loretto, TN

Jeffrey Chilton
Middleburgh Telephone Company
Esperance, NY

Kacie McIlwain
Millry Telephone Company
Silas, AL

Cody Sellers
Millry Telephone Company
Gilbertown, AL

Grant Aman
Mt. Angel Telephone Company
Mt. Angel, OR

Stephanie Jones
Mt. Angel Telephone Company
Mt. Angel, OR

Kyle Dimmit
Pioneer Communications
Syracuse, KS

Kyle Roessler
Ronan Telephone Company
Ronan, MT

Jordann Wiltfong
Rural Telephone Service Company, Inc.
Stockton, KS

Taylor Veater
Sierra Telephone
Coarsegold, CA

Jason Krug
Solarus
Vesper, WI

Bridgette Elmore
United Telephone Company
Lewisburg, TN

Katherine Cheney
Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom
Williston, VT

2009 Leadership Through Learning Experience

From April 19- 24, 2009, fourteen students participated in the Leadership Through Learning Youth Program hosted by the Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED). The high school juniors and seniors traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the week-long program sponsored by NECA, a membership corporation that helps ensure telephone service remains available and affordable in all parts of the country.

Throughout the week, students were on the go from morning to night. They visited the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the National Portrait Gallery, the Air and Space Museum, the Natural History Museum and the National Archives. In addition to learning about these national landmarks and the events or people they honor, the students also visited various Washington, D.C., neighborhoods and attended daily workshops, debates and lectures on current topics that included international relations, politics, the media, the judiciary system and lobbying. A highlight of the week included a visit to Capitol Hill where many of the students attended visits with their congressional representatives. 

On Thursday, April 23, the students attended a workshop at the OPASTCO offices that focused on rural telecommunications. Stuart Polikoff, director of Government Relations, and Randy Tyree, Director of Legislative and Industry Affairs, for OPASTCO joined the group and spoke about the way OPASTCO works for telecommunications companies like those that nominated the students to participate in LTL. Colin Sandy of NECA also presented information about rural telecommunications and the role NECA plays in that industry. 

2009 Leadership Through Learning Pictures

Past Leadership Through Learning Programs

2008 Leadership Through Learning Program
2007 Leadership Through Learning Program
2006 Leadership Through Learning Program
2005 Leadership Through Learning Program
2004 Leadership Through Learning Program
2003 Leadership Through Learning Program
2002 Leadership Through Learning Program