One year ago, Reagan Bales, son of Robin and Larry Bales, Osborne, submitted his application to compete for one of two trips the summer of 2020. As it turned out, Reagan’s score, including the open-book quiz, resume’, essay and interview provided him with the top score.
Following the interviews with the top two youth, Reagan was given his choice of the Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., June 2020 or the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp near Steamboat Springs, CO during July 2020. Reagan jumped at the opportunity to attend the leadership camp.
The required paperwork was submitted to Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. in Topeka. Then in March as students didn’t get to return to school due to the pandemic Covid-19 Coronavirus, Youth Tour and Leadership Camp committees began meeting virtually to determine what needed to be done for the safety and health of the youth, leaders, chaperones and medical staff. We all know the rest of the story about the trips. Cancelling the trips was a tremendous disappointment to all.
Youth from Colorado, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Kansas camp near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Since the camp was cancelled, Craig Zablocki, a camp keynote speaker, offered a webinar focusing on understanding important leadership traits. Participating students were invited to submit a video about what quality they think is most important in a leader. There were 19 application videos submitted by students.
The $500 Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (KEC) scholarship was awarded to Reagan Bales by Shana Read, Director of Education & Training at the office of Rolling Hills Electric. In his video titled “Lead Like a Child”, Bales stresses that leaders should be energetic, authentic, bold, teachable, and passionate. “When listening to the webinar with Craig Zablocki, I couldn’t help but notice that every one of the traits that he mentioned, he tied back to youth. Children don’t take themselves too seriously, they aren’t prideful, and they’re willing to learn, “Bales said. “I know that as I move forward in life, I can either sink back into the crowd or I can stand out as a leader. I plan to continue to seize the opportunities that are presented to me, even if they’re different than what I’m used to.”
“Reagan, you have the creativity and determination to do whatever you can dream. On behalf of Kansas Electric Cooperatives and Rolling Hills Electric, we congratulate you for a job well done,” states Shana Read, KEC. Rolling Hills Electric’s Mgr. Doug Jackson and Linnea Beebe, Member Services, also congratulated Reagan again for competing for the trips and for participating in this educational experience offered through the statewide associations of electric cooperatives.
Reagan is currently a senior at Osborne High School and plans to study kinesiology and exercise science after graduation.