Alena Goveas, a senior at River Bluff High School in Lexington, SC, is awarded the $5,000 R.D. Bennett Community Service Scholarship by Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative CEO Bob Paulling on behalf of the state's co-ops.
Photo by Josh P. Crotzer
Alena Goveas has a lot on her plate.
The senior at River Bluff High School in Lexington excels academically, helps with the school's social media and has a long list of other extracurricular activities that keep her busy.
Still, Goveas understands the importance of recreation at every stage of life.
"I'm really passionate about mental health and giving everyone the opportunity to participate in activities where they can relax," says Goveas, who was sponsored by Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative on the 2026 Washington Youth Tour.
It was that passion that led Goveas to create Senior Summer Self-Care, a wellness fair at Lexington Medical Extended Care that offered residents a special opportunity to play board and card games, color, craft and listen to music. Goveas also provided snacks and beverages.
"A lot of these residents don't get the opportunity to engage in self-care practices," says Goveas, who has been volunteering at the facility since she was in ninth grade. "I think the coloring station was their favorite. They also seemed to like the bracelets that had positive messages on them."
Goveas's Senior Summer Self-Care project earned her the $5,000 R.D. Bennett Community Service Scholarship award from the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina. A panel of judges selected her work from among seven community service projects completed by fellow Washington Youth Tour students this summer.
"I think it shows that when you put in hard work and dedication to a project that you're really passionate about, it can pay off," says Goveas, who logged 104 hours of work on the project over four months and raised more than $800 for supplies. "If you're passionate about anything, I would recommend that you reach out to a community and just try to give back in any way. Even a small difference is a difference."
The R.D. Bennett Community Service Scholarship is named for the first general manager of the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina. Bennett believed that electric cooperatives should support their local communities beyond providing power. The scholarship is given annually to a Washington Youth Tour participant who best exemplifies the cooperative principle of "Concern for Community."
"I knew Mr. Bennett," says Mid-Carolina Electric CEO Bob Paulling. "I know he would be very proud of Alena."