Area Nebraska students honored for election service

LINCOLN -- Nebraska students are being rewarded for their work at the polls during the primary and general elections in 2012.

Their names were selected by the Secretary of State's office and the Nebraska Bankers Association to receive a $50 savings bond.

In all, 264 students took part in this year's Youth Election Service (YES), a program designed to increase interest and involvement in the election system among youth ages 14-18.

YES participants from 27 counties worked over 1,460 hours during the statewide elections.

Students who worked at least four hours at their polling site were entered into the drawing for a $50 savings bond from the Nebraska Bankers Association.

Four winners were selected from each of the five designated districts. Area students nclude: Alexis Brandenburgh, Benkelman; Kindra Vanderford, Benkelman and Tess Whitman, Maywood;

Richardson County had the greatest number of participants at 36, followed by Hamilton County which had 31 participants. Five counties have taken part in the YES program since it started in 2004: Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Richardson & Lincoln.

"It is wonderful to see the kind of participation demonstrated by our young people here in Nebraska when it comes to our election process," observed Sec. John Gale. "This, in addition to the mock elections we hold, really gives students the type of hands-on experience that we hope fosters their participation in the voting process as they transition into adulthood."

Dundy: Alexis Brandenburgh, Benkelman; Kindra Vanderford, Benkelman.

Frontier: Tess Whitman, Maywood.

Hayes: Morgan Harouff, Culbertson; Sara Wright, Culbertson; Logan Johnston, Hayes Center; Kerbie Large, Hayes Center; Taylor Cooper, Hayes Center; Erick Rodriguez, Hayes Center; Sarah Cox, Hayes Center; Kendra Cook, Hayes Center.