Youth Leadership Team has Tech Day at NATCO
May 2008

Tech Day for Marion County Youth Leaders at NATCO Students of the South Shore Marion County Youth Leadership Team from three Marion County schools recently went to Northern Arkansas Telephone Company for Tech Day. In the front row, from left, are: Seth Caviness, Evan Goodwin, Holly Mackey, Autumn Shields, Samantha Cooper, Jami Taylor, Kelsey Jensen, and Gabriela Solano. In back row, from left are: Robby Owen, Tyler Garrison, Austin Pemberton, Brian Edmonson, Dillon Boyd, Dillon Kelley, Ben Kerwood, and Seth Fox. (Students not pictured are: Lacy Potter, Jacey Felkins, Laura Bean, and Gentry Rotenberry.)

The South Shore Marion County Youth Leadership Team recently spent a day at the business office of its major sponsor, Northern Arkansas Telephone Company (NATCO), doing hands-on activities to learn about the telephone and telecommunications company. The annual event in its seventh year is called Tech Day. South Shore Foundation is the charitable arm of NATCO.  

Touring different departments in three-person groups, students saw demonstrations showing why a home or business telephone landline is important. Later in the morning, the groups used the information to create a skit to win prizes including an iPod and iTunes cards.

The 16 ninth-grade students from three schools (Flippin, Yellville-Summit, and Bruno-Pyatt) also received South Shore Foundation gifts and learned about the scholarships offered to Marion County high school and college students by South Shore Foundation.

NATCO Plant Manager Steven G. Sanders Jr. said the staff was happy to host the Marion County Leadership Team, and does so each year. “NATCO hopes the hands-on activities of Tech Day generate interest in technology and make the students think more about their academic futures,” he said. He believes that goal is accomplished as the students visit NATCO.

NATCO staff members demonstrated tasks of their departments, such as Customer Service – Misty Ring, Engineering – Monica Osborn and Doug Smith, Internet – Mark Principato and Butch Hoornstra, Dispatch – Cathy Callen, Outside Plant – Larry Barber, Accounting – David White, and Human Resources – Deanna Sullivan. Sanders, along with Danielle Sanders, executive assistant, led the skit and promo contest, and Linda Lucy, executive assistant, welcomed the students and their adult advisors. Tour leaders were NATCO employees David White, Melissa Merkel, and Bill Hunt.

During the school year, the youth leadership team meets each month to focus on additional topics including local and state governments, the economy, leadership qualities, and teamwork. A graduation reception at the close of the school year honors the team members.

To be eligible for next year's South Shore Marion County Youth Leadership Team, eighth-grade
students should apply by the target date of June 15 to their school administration office. An application can be found online at www.southshore.com/mcyapp.htm, or students and their families may contact Renee Myers at the Marion County Cooperative Extension Service at (870) 449-6349.

NATCO is a family-owned, independent telephone company located at 301 E. Main St., Flippin, AR 72634. It provides telephone service to six exchanges in Marion and Boone Counties: Bull Shoals, Diamond City, Flippin, Lead Hill, Omaha and Pyatt. Its NATCO Technologies division provides Internet services throughout northern Arkansas and southern Missouri. For more information, call toll-free 1-800-775-6682.