Diverse Power Incorporated is one of 22 electric cooperatives in Georgia that team up with Georgia EMC to serve as a corporate sponsor of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) by sponsoring state high school championship games.

Through the school year, Diverse Power and Georgia’s EMCs sponsor “Prep Sports +” on Thursday and Friday nights and Saturday mornings on Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB), as well as TV spots that air during these 30-minute shows and during live GPB broadcasts of football semi-finals, football finals and basketball finals. The sponsorship also includes radio spots, print advertising and the popular Coaches’ Corners, areas set aside for coaches to relax at events with Georgia EMC representatives on-hand to serve as ambassadors, keeping snacks and drinks available.

Since 1999, the EMCs have sponsored these GHSA-member championship events, which feature sports ranging from football to track, riflery to basketball, and include literary competitions such as one-act plays and debate.

The newest component of the GHSA partnership includes Georgia EMC’s sponsorship of the Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award, a new initiative that began in Fall 2006 to highlight sportsmanship at high school competitive events. Schools that exemplify superior sportsmanship earn the Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award, which honors good sportsmanship demonstrated by athletes, students, coaches and spectators. Up to 40 awards will be presented each fall by local EMCs during halftime at fall football games.

Diverse Power President/CEO Wayne Livingston notes that the attributes of good sportsmanship fall in line with cooperative principles. “Cooperative principles stress teamwork and cooperation just as important on the high school playing field as they are to co-op employees in the workplace,” he says.