Seventeen ninth-grade students from Marion County schools took part in “Tech Day” at NATCO recently, learning about technology used in today’s telecommunications and careers in the field. The 17 are members of this year’s South Shore - Marion County Youth Leadership Team.

NATCO Vice President Steven Sanders Jr. presented a Power Point with examples of technology which have changed the telecom business in recent years and technology used in leisure time for listening to music and playing games. Students met with Internet Supervisor Larry May for comparisons of broadband DSL and dialup Internet access. Jodie Elizabeth Jeffrey, chairman of South Shore Foundation, gave an overview of the foundation and scholarships offered annually to graduating seniors of the South Shore area schools.

Tech Day is one of the monthly activities for these students in leadership training. Other sessions are about state government - including a trip to the State Capitol, civic responsibilities, energy and tourism - hosted by Gaston’s White River Resort and Bull Shoals Dam, personality assessment, teamwork and communication - led by youth specialists from the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, real world skills and career awareness - led by Mike Ragland of Entergy and hosted by Ranger Boats. A graduation reception was held May 17 at Bruno-Pyatt School.

Renee Myers, chair of the adult advisory board, said the program is based on the premise that the youth of today will serve as the leaders of tomorrow. Activities are designed to identify and strengthen leadership skills in youth and build their self-confidence as they learn to serve their schools and communities. Students also complete community service projects.

Students attending the NATCO Tech Day were: Amanda Stoops, Grace Gilley, Kortnie Webster, Logan Sheehan, and Steven Knapp, all of Yellville-Summit High School; Heather Belyea, Kelsey Walker, Samantha Sabo, Kay Lynn Mackey, Mary Beth Swafford, Manny Ryan, all of Bruno-Pyatt Public School; and Brittany Lane, Kaytlyn Ash, Jessica Pierce, Andrea Hullett, Caleb Hudson, and Ryan Myers, all of Flippin.

To be on next year’s South Shore-Marion County Youth Leadership Team, any eighth-grade student may apply to their school’s counselor, the Marion County Extension Office (870) 449-6349, or online at the South Shore Foundation Web site at ww.southshore.com/mcyapp.htm by June 15. Team members will be selected by the Marion County Youth Leadership Advisory Committee.

South Shore Foundation, the charitable foundation of NATCO, is the major funding sponsor of the youth leadership team. Additional sponsors are Entergy, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Bruno-Pyatt, Flippin, and Yellville-Summit schools, and local business contributors including Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing, First Federal Bank, Gaston’s White River Resort, Hudson Foods, and Ranger Boats.

NATCO is an independent, family-owned company providing telephone service to a 658 square-mile area in portions of Marion and Boone counties, with offices at 301 E. Main St., Flippin. Call toll-free 800-775-6682, or visit the company’s Web sites: www.natconet.com or www.natcotech.com. Its NATCO Technologies division provides Internet services to residents throughout the Twin Lakes area.