Central Texas Telephone Cooperative, Inc. sponsors an Essay Contest every year for 11th graders across the Cooperative’s service area. The title of the essay is “How Telecommunications Affect My Life in Rural Texas”. Cheyenne Tharp from Richland Springs High School won first place which is an all-expense paid trip to Washington DC. She will join 100 other 11th grade students that live in rural areas across the United States.Marie Rider from Lohn High School won second place and received a check for $150.00 and Thomas Fowler from Richland Springs High School won third place and received a check for $100.00. The Foundation for Rural Services, a part of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), hosts this trip every summer. The main goal of this trip is to encourage students to remain in and become an active member of their rural communities. They also learn that telecommunication services offered in rural Texas are comparable to those found in urban areas.