Chelsey Holland said she had gained a lot more than the winning title when she entered the PowerSouth essay contest.

The contest was a multi-step process, according to Holland. The judges announced the top ten essay winners, but only five students were selected to go into the interview and test rounds.

Holland was announced among the final two Pike County High School students who will represent the district and attend the Montgomery Youth Tour for three days.

Holland will also attend the Washington DC Youth Tour for a week during the upcoming summer.

“With the essay topic ‘My corporate, my community,’ my paper travels through time from the1930s when the company started to the present date,” Holland said. “It not only discusses the evolution of the ways people have used electricity but also the company’s contribution to the community as a non profit.”

Holland said her English teacher encouraged her to participate in the contest even though it was something she has never done before.

“It was something different,” she said. “I didn’t know much details about the company, but as I did research into it, I learned not only about PowerSouth but also about corporatives as a whole.”

Holland is a dual-enrolled student at PCHS and Enterprise State Community College Business Academy and Finance. She will graduate with an associate’s degree along with a high school diploma.

Holland said although she may pursue medical field as her career, she was interested in business.

“I like clothes and fashion and I want to open a business of my own,” she said. “I am taking the (finance) program to see what I am capable of.”

Holland said from the contest, she found a few things in PowerSouth she could apply to her business, including the interview process. She would use the same technique when she selects her employees.

“They asked questions to figure out who you are, your skills and your personalities,” she said. “You could tell they were looking for a well-rounded person because they asked questions from various aspects.”

Another thing Holland said she learned from her experience was the significance of corporate community contribution.

“When I open a business, I think its important to give back to the community,” Holland said. “Everybody has their own situation and many are not as fortunate as I am.”