LOCAL STUDENTS LEARN FROM APES
Forty-two high school students in Hardin County attended a two-day program called The American Private Enterprise System, or better known as A.P.E.S. Students from E-town High, Fort Knox, North Hardin, John Hardin, and Central Hardin High joined together to learn how America is organized to do business. Local business and professional leaders were invited to speak on a variety of topics including corporations, cooperatives, legalities of business and diversity at school and the community.
APES committee chairperson, Patsy Whitehead, Nolin RECC, welcomed the students to the seminar, “During the next two days you will learn about various businesses and how they operate. We will present ‘real life’ situations and ask you to work as a team in an effort to resolve these business issues.” Whitehead, who has worked with the program for the past 21 years, says various businesses in Hardin County help to sponsor the seminar. Whitehead credits these businesses with the success of the seminar: AM Rotary Club, Clark Jewelers, Cecilian Bank, Coca-Cola of Elizabethtown, Magnolia Bank, Don Pierce & Associates, Fort Knox Federal Credit Union, First Citizens Bank, Nolin RECC, and the Cooperative Extension 4-H Council.
Guest speaker was former educator and LaRue County native Glen Rice. His words of wisdom focused on students setting goals and achieving success. He followed his presentation with inspirational music.
The A.P.E.S. program is not only educational but it is motivational and fun. Six students will attend the State Youth Seminar at the University of Kentucky Campus this June as Hardin County Youth Delegates. These students will attend because they achieved the highest test scores throughout the two-day seminar. While in Lexington, they will compete for cash awards, college scholarships and a chance to attend the National Institute on Cooperative Education in Knoxville, TN. They are (left to right) Ashley Doughty (John Hardin), Eddie Legaspi (John Hardin), Mike Taylor (Fort Knox), Maggie Mattingly (John Hardin), Tina Cota-Robles (Fort Knox), and Caleb Givan (Central Hardin).
Prizes and awards presented during the seminar include: “Outstanding Participant Awards” Tina Cota-Robles and Eddie Legaspi. “People’s Choice Award” was presented to Eddie Legaspi.
Taking home new learning experiences as well the seminar’s mascot, was Karissa Jackson from Fort Knox High School. Each year a souvenir APE is given to one student at the seminar.
The APES program is successful because high school counselors and committee members work together to accomplish a great two-day business and economic seminar. They include Patsy Whitehead (chair), Tara Graziano (vice chair), Lisa Mudd, Scott Curley, JoLynn Shipp, Alan Campbell, Ken Adams, Bill Hay, Gail Dunkelberger, Rik Hawkins, Carol Perkins, and Hardin County 4-H Youth Development Agent Marla Stillwell.
This youth program depends largely upon outstanding speakers who volunteer their time to teach local students. Volunteers this year were John J. Scott, Kelly Meredith, Tim Goblirsch, Rik Hawkins, Michael Coyle, Glen Rice, and Patsy Whitehead.
Clark Jeweler’s has traditionally donated watches to the outstanding young male and female participants of APES. This year is no exception. A special thank you goes to Clark Jeweler’s from two remarkable young students, Eddie Legaspi and Tina Cota-Robles.
