At the Cooperative Youth Leaders workshop, one student is chosen from the 82 student leaders as the Youth Leadership Council (YLC) representative after being evaluated on their participation, leadership skills, and the completion of a rigorous interview. The YLC will then represent the state of Mississippi in several different capacities.

Bella Lane from Wayne Academy in Waynesboro, representing Dixie Electric Power Association, earned this prestigious designation at the recent Cooperative Youth Leaders workshop in Jackson.

In addition to being selected as the YLC representative, Bella also received the Cooperative Spirit Award, which is voted on by her peers. The award represents the student at the workshop that shows the most leadership and kindness to others. It is simply described as a congeniality award. This is the first time that a student has earned both awards.

As the YLC, Bella will represent Mississippi at the upcoming Youth Tour of Washington, D.C., in June 2023 and at the PowerXChange conference, including electric cooperative leaders from across the nation, in San Antonio, Texas, in March 2024.

“I am so honored to be selected as the recipient of these awards,” said Lane. “I am so excited to represent Wayne Academy, Dixie Electric, my community, and Mississippi to the best of my ability. I am truly thankful for all the incredibly hardworking and kind people who made this possible. It has been an experience of a lifetime.”

Bella will also speak at the Electric Cooperative of Mississippi’s Annual Meeting in Biloxi in September 2023. Her speech will recap her experience as a Cooperative Youth Leader and highlight experiences through the program that have impacted her the most.

Bella will receive scholarships for earning the YLC and the Cooperative Spirit Award.