by Josh Crotzer
Natalia Salas of York, a student at Westminster Catawba Christian School, was one of three students to win a $5,000 scholarship in an audio podcast competition sponsored by South Carolina’s electric cooperatives.
Salas, along with Abigail Crumley of Berkeley and Emma Rose Radcliff of Santee, created an 8‑minute audio essay about how young people can impact their local communities in a turbulent time. The group interviewed other youth from across the state who are making a difference in their hometowns.
“As we observed these young women, we have answered the question of how youth can impact their communities,” says Salas.
Their winning podcast was selected by a panel of journalists that included Avery Wilks of The Post and Courier newspaper, Kenneth Moton of ABC News and Dawndy Mercer Plank of WIS News. Each member of the winning team received $5,000 scholarships.
A total of 37 high school students from across South Carolina competed in the challenge after having been selected by their local cooperative to participate in the Cooperative Youth Summit, a four-day leadership experience that offers students the chance to learn more about state government and electric cooperatives. Salas’s participation in the Cooperative Youth Summit was sponsored by York Electric Cooperative.
All of the students’ podcasts are available online.