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Ponoka youth wins Moose Youth Awareness

Jesse Stretch has won a fully paid trip to a competition in Kenosha, Wisconsin at the end of the month hosted by Moose International.

A Ponoka youth is heading to the United States to take part in a Moose Youth Awareness challenge.

When Jesse Stretch heard that the Moose International organization was holding a challenge to raise safety awareness in youths, she jumped at the opportunity. That initiative landed her a solid win and a chance at scholarship money at a competition in Kenosha, Wisconsin at the end of the month hosted by Moose International.

The fully paid trip includes $250 spending money and flight and hotel accommodations. For Stretch the trip will give her an opportunity to gain some valuable experience while also meeting other like-minded youths.

She spoke on three topics, although only one is required. Those topics were farm safety, playground safety and protecting your hearing.

Phil Derksen, Alberta Moose Youth Awareness Co-ordinator, suggested the competition and trip will be a positive experience. “I think there should be lots of students willing to do it.”

Every fall Moose Youth Awareness Congresses are held across the United States and Canada. They are open to all high school students who would like to talk to kids ages four to nine years old.

The talks can be about drugs, alcohol, bullying, abuse, stranger danger, etc.

Once the “Kids Talks” are completed they are judged by a peer group of Grade 12 students and the one with the most age appropriate, quality presentation is forwarded to Moose International.

The international congress decides who goes on the all expenses paid five day trip, April 27 to May 1. Stretch will compete with 52 other students for scholarships, which are provided by the Moose Legion The Degree of Service for the Moose Fraternity.

Scholarships are as follows: First, $12,000; second, $8,000; third, $5,000; fourth, $3,000 and fifth, $2,000.

There are 1,600 Loyal Order of Moose Lodges worldwide, 650,000 members and eight lodges in Alberta. More members are always welcome.