The American Private Enterprise Systems

LOCAL STUDENTS LEARN FROM APES

Each year forty high school students in Hardin County and thirty students in LaRue County attend 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, Central Hardin High, and LaRue County join together to learn how America is organized to do business.  Local business and professional leaders are invited to speak on a variety of topics including corporations, cooperatives, legalities of business and effective communication skills.

Nolin RECC, The Hardin and LaRue County Cooperative Extension Service and other local businesses sponsor APES.  It is totally self-funded and dependent upon area sponsorships.  The program is normally held in November and students must be in their junior year of high school. 

Participating students have the opportunity to win cash awards and a trip to the state and national conference.  The State Youth Seminar is always held in Lexington at the University of Kentucky.  In late July the national conference will take place in Ashville, North Carolina.    

Interested high school juniors may contact Patsy Whitehead, A.P.E.S. Chairperson at 270-765-6153 or email pwhitehead@nolinrecc.com.

Cameron Hamilton (left) and Alex Meredith served as Youth Scholar Leaders at the 2007 APES seminar.  The two attended the local and state program last year and returned this year to assist the seminar students.

The 2007/08 APES delegates are (left to right), Jessica Clark (John Hardin High), Ashley Eklund (John Hardin High), Jeff Grover (John Hardin High), Laura Pait (E-town High), and Amy Florek (North Hardin High).  These six students will attend the Kentucky Youth Seminar held in Lexington, Kentucky, in June 2008.

Claiming the title of outstanding young female and male is Laura Pait and Jeff Grover.  The two are admiring their watches compliments of Clark Jewelers of Elizabethtown.  They also received $50 in Chamber Bucks.

Ashley Eklund (left) was voted by her peers to receive the “People’s Choice” Award and received $100 for this distinction.  Tim Cooper (North Hardin High) was awarded the “Head APE” award and was delighted to take home the seminar’s mascot “Roger”.  Our “Cooperative Spirit” award recipient is Kandace Harris (John Hardin High), and she received a $50 gift certificate from Nolin RECC.