‘Who Powers You’ Contest Nominations Now Being Accepted
Southeastern Electric along with the region’s other Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives are excited to announce the fourth annual Who Powers You Contest. Online nominations open on Mon., Feb. 3 at WhoPowersYouContest.com. The contest highlights local figures who are making a difference in their communities.
“Each year, I look forward to meeting and learning about our members that are volunteering their time and energy to bring positive change to our communities,” said Erica Fitzhugh, Communications and Public Relations Manager at Southeastern Electric Cooperative. “They don’t do it for the recognition, but each of them deserve to be recognized, and we’d like to help make that happen.”
Member-owners, employees and residents who live or work within the service territory of the region’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives are eligible to be nominated. Nominations will be accepted February 3 through April 11, 2025. Three final winners will be selected by a panel of judges based on the impact that they have on the community. Weekly finalists will be announced and featured on Keloland Living starting March 13, 2025, and the three contest winners will be announced on Keloland Living on May 22, 2025.
The Who Powers You contest grand prize winner will receive a $3,000 prize. A second place winner will receive $1,500 and the contest’s third place winner will receive $500.
In 2024, Southeastern Electric members Carolyn Hongslo and Shannon Collins-Pinto were featured as finalists during the contest. Carolyn Hongslo positively impacts the communities of Alcester and Hudson with her involvement in the summer recreation program, her local church and by bringing a positive attitude to the school. Shannon Collins-Pinto powers the communities within Southeastern Electric Cooperative’s service territory with her involvement in the Sioux Falls Fraternal Order of Police, the Community Emergency Response Team, as a FEMA volunteer and by volunteering her time and skills to individuals in need of home healthcare.
“As an electric cooperative, our services extend beyond delivering safe, affordable and reliable power to our member-owners,” Fitzhugh said. “The Who Powers You contest highlights the commitment of our co-op to the communities and member-owners that we serve. We know that our co-op community is filled with people making a difference. Let’s celebrate them!”
Click here to submit a nomination!
Please direct any questions about the contest to cbakken@eastriver.coop.