“Wanting to make a difference in other’s lives, Brady has sought out ways to help and express his loyalty to his community,” said Lauri Blosser in her nomination of Brady. “He has unselfishly given of his time in order to help those in the community that are not as fortunate as he is.”

Brady is the valedictorian of his class, class president, was named Mr. Balko High School for his all-around student qualities. He has been active in football, basketball, FFA and choir.

Brady cites both of his grandfathers, John Durham of Perryton, Texas and Austin Burdick of Boise City, Okla. as his mentors and men he looks up to. Brady’s father, the late Jimmy Burdick, died when Brady was three years of age. His grandfathers stepped into the role of father for Brady providing an example for him to model.

Brady will be attending Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford where he will major in pre-pharmacy. Brady will study to become a pharmacist. Brady has won numerous scholarships due to his community leadership and excellent aptitude for learning in the classroom.

Butch and Kenda Reynolds of Balko and the late Jimmy Burdick are Brady’s parents.

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“We hope these scholarships will assist the students on their journey to a higher education,” said Zac Perkins, Tri-County Electric’s vice president of Corporate Services. “Their hard work and determination were reflected in their entries and we wish these students the best in their endeavors.” Meet this year’s scholarship winners below.

Luz Figueroa of Hooker

“Living in a small community is a great thing, because everyone is close and helps each other out greatly,” Figueroa said in her scholarship application. “I enjoy helping out my community as well as receiving their support.”

During her high school years, Figueroa has been involved in National Honor Society, Oklahoma Honor Society, Student Council, Track, Basketball, Spirit Club Dog Pound and more.

Kayla Mizer of Boise City

“From the time I was a child I was taught that if you give to the community, it will give back to you,” Mizer said in her application. “Like helping out a friend when they are down. You are there for them and they will be there for you…That is why I strongly feel that community involvement is so important.”

A few of the activities Mizer has been involved in during high school are: 4-H, FFA, Girl Scouts, Class President, Class Treasurer, Student Council, track and cheerleading.

Jacob Murphy of Texhoma

“Being involved in various activities, I have been taught how to be responsible and manage my time,” Murphy said in his application. “I have learned how the success of the town depends on community members and their constant support, and without the community’s support the town eventually dies.”

Murphy has been involved in a variety of activities during his high school career. A few of them are: FFA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, class officer, band, Texhoma Iris Garden Club and Goodwell Town Cleanup.

Ryan Bryant-Schlobohm of Goodwell

“I believe that involvement in all my activities and programs has been very advantageous to me,” Bryant-Schlobohm said in his application. “They have assisted me in branching out as a person and citizen of my community.”

Activities Bryant-Schlobohm has been involved in during high school include: academic team, band, basketball, Business Professionals of America, class officer, football, National Honor Society and yearbook.

Tri-County Electric offers a variety of leadership and educational opportunities for students of any age. To learn more about them, visit www.tri-countyelectric.coop.

Kaylea’s mother, Monica Ronne is the Northwest Regional Coordinator for OFN and has actively encouraged Kaylea to become involved in making a difference in people’s lives. Kaylea has made a difference for many years, dedicating her time as Sibshops facilitator, serving on the Oklahoma Sibling panel and recently was appointed to be a certified national facilitator.

As a senior at Guymon High School, Kaylea is a member of the National Honor Society where she serves as treasurer; she has played on the high school volleyball team and excelled on the golf team. She works at Mazzio’s in Guymon in her spare time.

“She has commitment to volunteering her time to help kids with disabilities and helping families with disabilities,” Shawn Martinez said in his nomination of Kaylea. “She has integrity by being able to stand up for what she believes in.”

Kaylea indicates her mother is her role model and looks up to her leadership skills in helping those with disabilities.

After high school Kaylea plans to attend Oklahoma State University in Stillwater and obtain her degree in speech-language pathology. She hopes to become a speech therapist and work with children.

Shawn and Monica Ronne of Guymon are Kaylea’s parents. They are proud of her accomplishments.

To stay safe after a major storm or natural disaster strikes, Tri-County Electric urges you to develop a family action plan. Designate a place for everyone to meet after an event. Map out ways to evacuate your home. Create a laminated card with emergency contact names and numbers for each family member. Consider listing a relative or friend who lives far from your community as the point of contact—if your family gets separated, that person can let others know who is safe.

And don’t forget pets in your family action plan—many rescue shelters will not accept pets after a catastrophe of some sort, so it’s important to decide beforehand where Fido or Tabby can take up residence for a while.

It’s not hard to understand why safety remains a top priority for Tri-County Electric—working around electricity is a life-or-death situation every day for many of our employees. As a result, we work hard to instill a culture of safety that our folks can take home with them and live 24/7.

We also strive to raise safety awareness among Tri-County Electric members. Look for safety tips in this LiveWire publication, and check www.tri-countyelectric.coop for more information.

Pledge to honor Electrical Safety Month by fashioning an emergency action plan for your family today. Learn more about weathering storms safely at www.ready.gov.