Banks County High School senior Matt Sanders won a $1,000 scholarship in the State EMC/FFA Agricultural Education Career Development Event (CDE), a wiring competition that tests students in three knowledge skills using the National Electric Code. Jackson EMC is a sponsor of the competition. 

The state wiring contest is the only CDE that requires three skills that are directly applied to a career. Other FFA events have only one skill requirement. 

Sanders competed against 11 students in the statewide competition with a timed practical wiring exercise, a problem-solving written exam, and an oral presentation describing the necessary steps to complete an electrical wiring task.  

 Sanders previously won the regional wiring event to advance to the state competition. He plans a career as a residential electrician. Sanders will attend Athens Technical College and pursue a degree in electrical construction. 

FFA and Georgia’s electric membership corporations (EMCs), including Jackson EMC, provide an educational opportunity to teach high school students the safe, efficient use of electricity.  The FFA is a national organization of approximately 500,000 student members preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture. An integral part of the agricultural education program in public schools, FFA’s mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.  

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, the largest electric cooperative in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation, is headquartered 50 miles northeast of Atlanta in Jefferson, Ga. The cooperative serves more than 246,000 meters on 14,000 miles of energized wire. For more information, visit jacksonemc.com.