BROADBAND: GAMING EDITION

ConnectedNOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Best of the best Geraldine teen wins Microsoft championship

A SUCCESSFUL KICKOFF A Fort Payne teen’s stellar college career READY, SET, PLAY Broadband gives gamers a competitive edge INDUSTRY NEWS

Rural Connections

BY SHIRLEY BLOOMFIELD, CEO NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association

We need better Celebrate rural health on Nov. 21 mapping data Despite the challenges of serving rural America, health care professionals are delivering quality care, embracing technology and finding creative ways to everal states have adopted loan and encourage wellness among their rural patients. On Nov. 21, rural health offices grant programs to help extend ser- will honor these providers — along with the partners and communities who sup- Svice to those areas of rural America port them — by sponsoring National Rural Health Day. still lacking a reliable broadband connec- tion. Beyond its traditional programs, the federal government continues looking for How can you celebrate National Rural Health Day? ways to invest in this critical infrastruc- Find free, downloadable resources for many of the activities ture. below by visiting www.powerofrural.org/nrhd-tookit. A challenge associated with deciding where to invest these dollars is identify- ing where service is or is not already PARENTS: Prepare a healthy meal for dinner, and talk with your kids available. The FCC’s broadband maps are about the blessings — and the challenges — of living in rural America. Mention the health care providers who service your rural community. the determining resource. The FCC issued an order over the sum- PATIENTS: Write a note to your health care team, thanking them for mer that will move away from the overly their help and their commitment to serving a rural population. broad use of census blocks for reporting broadband coverage, instead requiring PHYSICIANS: Display National Rural Health Day posters in your office. providers to submit “shapefiles” show- Provide a staff appreciation lunch. Visit www.WalkWithADoc.org and ing where they actually offer broadband consider starting this fun, active outreach in your community. service. I had the opportunity to appear before FACEBOOK USERS: Share a story about your doctor, a nurse or other a Congressional committee in September, health care provider who has made a positive impact on your life. where I shared a few key steps to move us toward more accurate mapping. TEACHERS: Give your students coloring book pages. Sponsor a rural health-themed poster contest. Invite physicians or nurses from local First, we need standardized reporting. hospitals and clinics to speak to students. It is also important to have a back-end validation process. BROADBAND USERS: Search for health information over your broad- Finally, a robust challenge process is band connection. Ask your physician if there are telehealth resources needed to allow providers and policy- that could help you maintain or improve your health. makers to do one last “sanity check” on the accuracy of the maps before decisions SMALL BUSINESSES: Show appreciation to your local rural health are reached. professionals by providing them with discounts or special offers. Providers like yours are making great progress in connecting rural America. But YOU!: Make healthy eating choices. Take a walk. Avoid tobacco prod- if we hope for a future where everyone ucts. Schedule an appointment to have your cholesterol and blood has broadband access, we must have bet- pressure checked. ter mapping data.  Share your experiences across social media using the hashtags #powerofrural and #nationalruralhealthday.

2 | November/December 2019 Gaming generation Millennials — the first lifelong gamers

he U.S. launch of the Nintendo Thanks to games that emphasize Entertainment System in late 1985 social features, about 70% of millennial Thelped create an entertainment gamers and the generation following, revolution. The oldest millennials at the often known as Gen Z, turn to multi- time were about 4 years old, and that player gaming for the social component. generation would be the first to make Also, the pastime remains a critical gaming a common pastime. entertainment choice even when the Members of this group, also known competition ends. About 70% of gam- as Generation Y, are closely tracked by ers turn to YouTube or Twitch to watch experts such as The Nielsen Company to online videos about gaming. On aver- monitor entertainment and technology age, this form of viewing totals nearly trends, because the habits of millennials six hours weekly. Millennial gamers are shape those industries. willing to pay those who create the con- Today, millennial gamers are find- tent they enjoy, either through subscrip- ing new ways to play. There are mobile tions or by donating directly. games and online, community-based A Nielsen report concluded that mil- games. Some people compete, and others lennials will not quickly outgrow this enjoy the movielike experiences of mod- form of entertainment, and they will ern games. And for millennial gamers, become the first generation of lifelong the male-to-female ratio is roughly even. gamers. 

Games have become a social activity for millennials Thanks to social features that let connected gamers chat and play with each other, a large share of millennials and Gen Zers play multiplayer games to virtually hang out with their friends and families. Members of Gen X and up are, in contrast, far less likely to play multiplayer titles. Millennial gamers 100 are a wide-ranging 80 demographic group 60 72% 70% 54% 76% 40 with full-time pay for a movie/TV 43% employment streaming service 20 43% 38% 0 with a bachelor’s pay for a music GEN Z MILLENNIALS GEN X degree or higher streaming service

46% $58,000 with children average household income

November/December 2019 | 3 FROM THE CEO Connected Respect: a hallmark of NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 VOL. 23, NO. 6 Connected is a bimonthly magazine published by Farmers Telecommunications civilization Cooperative, © 2019. It is distributed without charge to all customers of FTC.

et me give you a glimpse behind the curtain. The version of this column you read isn’t always the first one I write. We have a Lreally good editorial process that keeps yours truly from driving off the proverbial literary cliff. That process has saved me more than once. That’s again the case here. FTC is the state’s largest member-owned provider of telecommunications services. Since I’m really bad at political correctness, I avoid political It serves Northeast Alabama with a robust issues here unless it directly relates to public policy that affects broadband network using world-class optical fiber technology. you. However, my frustration with certain recent events led me to compose an article attacking blatant hypocrisy. The specific issue involved the trend to attack people for mistakes they made Farmers Telecommunications earlier in life and to suggest such youthful transgressions perma- Cooperative, Inc. nently disqualifies a person from ever rendering a worthwhile P.O. Box 217 • 144 McCurdy Ave. N. service to society. To make such a claim while acting as if you Rainsville, AL 35986 FRED JOHNSON Telephone: 256-638-2144 Chief Executive Officer never made a mistake in life yourself is particularly offensive to www.farmerstel.com me. I’ve never met anyone that, if truth be known, hasn’t done something they shouldn’t have at some point in their life. I’m certainly guilty of it. But I firmly believe in the concepts of forgiveness and redemption. BOARD OF TRUSTEES We used to hold those two principles dear. Stupidity should never be used as an excuse for Randy Wright, President morally offensive actions, but I firmly believe that people should be judged on the whole of Flat Rock Exchange their life and not on singular moments of unwise behavior or youthful immaturity. Garry Smith, Vice President So what went wrong with my article? Well, let’s just say that dealing with hypocrisy is Fyffe Exchange akin to picking up a sharp two-edged sword. Be real careful which way you swing it. I was Danny R. Richey, Secretary reminded that singling out one kind of hypocrisy while ignoring another is, well, sort of Geraldine Exchange hypocritical. OUCH! I hate it when I get called out like that. Can’t you just let me rant? Lynn Welden, Treasurer Then I remember what my faith requires of me. I am not allowed to examine the speck Bryant Exchange in another’s eye without first examining the plank in my own. To be certain, our current Kenneth Gilbert political landscape is littered with lousy human behavior. Truth is discarded in favor of Pisgah Exchange perception and character assassination is considered a perfectly legitimate tool as long as Gregg Griffith it’s politically successful. Still, hypocrisy cuts both ways. You cannot be critical of one side Henagar Exchange of the political spectrum without equally examining the other. That’s not easy to do, but the Randy Tumlin type of fairness to which we should all aspire demands it. Fairness and respect are lacking Rainsville Exchange in our society. We can and should do better. It must start with us. Does this have anything to do with keeping you connected? Probably not, but we enable Produced for FTC by: much of the communication that bombards you every day. Honestly, the news often sucks the life out of me, but then I’m reminded it’s nothing new. It’s been going on forever. I merely wish that we would learn to judge only as we wish to be judged, and that we would demand the same from those who represent us. Being respectful of others, even when you disagree on principle, is a hallmark of civilization. It’s also a core tenet of Christianity and On the Cover: a number of other prominent civilized faiths. Geraldine’s Seth Maddox won the Microsoft Thanks for letting me get this off my chest. I’ll try to keep myself reigned in and those PowerPoint World editorial controls firmly in place. Championship, besting 850,000 others from around the world. See story Page 12.

4 | November/December 2019 STATEMENT OF You live in a NONDISCRIMINATION In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and poli- cies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Few communities enjoy the advantages FTC members have through the coopera- tive’s internet services, which have drawn national attention. Persons with disabilities who require alter- native means of communication for pro- Just last year, FTC earned a Smart Rural Communities Showcase Award from NTCA– gram information (e.g., Braille, large print, The Rural Broadband Association, making FTC one of only 75 locally owned broad- audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) band providers across the United States and Canada to earn the honor. should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 “It’s not enough to simply build broadband — communities must adopt it, embrace it (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through and use it creatively,” says Joshua Seidemann, vice president of policy for NTCA. the Federal Relay Service at 800-877- 8339. Additionally, program information And FTC members have very much embraced the power of broadband: may be made available in languages other than English. • Schools use technology to track assignments and platforms such as Skype to allow communication with students in other countries. To file a program discrimination com- plaint, complete the USDA Program • Industries use internet-based tools to interact with other distant offices. Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, • Medical providers rely on fast access to digital records to provide more efficient found online at How to File a Program care. Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed And that’s only the beginning. Each day, FTC members use the cooperative’s internet to USDA and provide in the letter all of service to better their lives. “FTC is building the fiber network that makes these high- the information requested in the form. To speed connections possible,” says Fred Johnson, FTC’s chief executive officer and request a copy of the complaint form, call general manager, “but it’s our members who are innovating and exploring new ways 866-632-9992. Submit your completed of using that network.” form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Few other communities can say the same. The Smart Rural Communities Showcase Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Award is given after rigorous review by panels of experts in telecom, agriculture, Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, education, economic development and other industries that have critical stakes in D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: 202-690-7442; or rural areas, Seidemann says. (3) email: [email protected].

“I believe we’re only beginning to see the difference broadband will make in people’s USDA is an equal opportunity provider, lives,” Johnson says. “We are proud to support our Smart Rural Communities.” employer, and lender.

Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative November/December 2019 | 5 TRAVEL

North Carolina museum honors soldiers through the years

Historyhe birth comes of the U.S. Army Airborne alive units came about in 1940 with the aid of a batch of borrowed TRiddell football helmets from the United States Military Academy at West Point. The helmets, which were used to protect the heads of aspiring paratroopers, came with instructions, however. The team needed them back when football season returned.

With that bit of information, visitors can Fort Bragg and oversees various uncon- A U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations enter the Airborne & Special Operations ventional warfare units. The Army post Museum display re-creates Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina. also serves as headquarters for the XVIII a temporary post in Situated just a few miles from Fort Bragg, Airborne Corps, which has long presided Afghanistan. the museum honors the sacrifices of all over some of the most storied Army units airborne and special operations units with in the nation’s history, including the 101st an extensive collection of memorabilia Airborne and the 82nd Airborne All Amer- and military equipment dating from World ican Division, which is still located on War II to the present day. Fort Bragg. “But our museum represents more than the 82nd,” says Jim Bartlinski, WHY FAYETTEVILLE? museum director. “We represent all U.S. Now-retired Gen. James Lindsay led Army Airborne troops and Special Opera- There is a special emphasis on World War a push for the museum. He served as the tions. So we tell those histories here.” II, which saw not only the beginning of first commander of the U.S. Army Special the Airborne but also the most concen- Operations Command, which is located on FROM PAST TO PRESENT trated use of airborne operations. During The exterior design of the museum fea- that time, paratroopers dropped behind tures soaring metal beams that play on the enemy lines to work with groups resisting looks of the jump towers paratroopers use the Nazi invasion of their countries. They to practice. An imposing Iron Mike statue also landed in Normandy just before the greets entering visitors. Various monu- D-Day invasion of Europe. ments commemorating American soldiers Displays include artifacts, true-to-life bear the nickname. This Iron Mike details dioramas, the various types of aircraft the look of a World War II-era para- used for missions, specialized Jeeps and trooper, but it represents all paratroopers other equipment used for airborne drops and special operations soldiers, Bartlinski and specialized missions behind enemy says. lines. One glass-encased display shows a Inside the museum, visitors get a chron- card with an early version of the special ological look at the world of paratroopers forces’ red arrowhead insignia. The cards One of the Vietnam War-era and special forces soldiers — from their sometimes turned up conspicuously on museum displays re-creates soldiers on a rescue mission first test jump in Fort Benning, Georgia, in the uniforms of dead Nazis as a chilling jumping out of a helicopter. 1940 to today’s missions in Afghanistan. warning.

6 | November/December 2019 Hooah!The Airborne & Special Operations Museum is at 100 Bragg Blvd., about 8 miles from Fort Bragg, in the heart of historic downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina. It is within walking distance of the North Carolina Veterans Park, a variety of local shops and restaurants, and the new baseball stadium of the Houston Astros’ minor league farm team, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. For more information, including hours of operation, visit the museum’s website at asomf.org or its Facebook page.

Visit a military museum this Veterans Day Interactive displays are also scattered throughout the Military museums continue to fill visitors with respect and appreciation for the men museum, including one that and women of the U.S. armed forces. But today’s military museums feature dazzling gives visitors a chance to sit in interactive activities, exciting simulations and realistic visual displays that bring history the hard, metal seats of a C-47 to life and educate visitors about the people who fought. Looking for an inspiring military fuselage and then experience museum in the Southeast? Here are just a few of the greats: a simulation of jumping out of the cargo carrier. In addition, NATIONAL NAVAL AVIATION MUSEUM the museum’s theater shows Pensacola, Florida movies several times a day, and The National Naval Aviation Museum is the world’s largest Naval aviation museum. a 25-seat simulator room offers It explores the rich history of Naval aviation with more than 150 beautifully restored virtual reality experiences that aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aviation. These historic and mimic those of paratroopers. one-of-a-kind aircraft are displayed both inside the museum’s nearly 350,000 square The museum offers visitors feet of exhibit space and outside on its 37-acre grounds. For more information, visit a chance to refresh their his- navalaviationmuseum.org. tory knowledge and see it in the context of the ongoing military NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEUM & SOLDIER CENTER operations of the times. But it Fort Benning, Georgia also gives them a chance to bet- With thousands of artifacts, monuments, interactive exhibits and video presentations ter understand history from the on display, the National Infantry Museum is one of the nation’s leading military eyes of a soldier, Bartlinski says. history destinations. Visitors of all ages can experience firsthand the American “What we do here commemo- infantryman’s journey to defeat tyranny around the globe. For more information, visit rates the service of all these nationalinfantrymuseum.org. paratroopers,” he says. “It points out all their sacrifices in the past U.S. ARMY AVIATION MUSEUM and the ways they’ve continued Fort Rucker, Alabama to make sacrifices. It’s important Life-sized dioramas of aircraft and personnel capture the rich heritage of Army aviation, to remember that our troops are which started during the U.S. Civil War with hydrogen-filled balloons that directed still out there in harm’s way.”  artillery fire. About 50 different aircraft fill this cavernous museum and tell the wild and uplifting stories of U.S. Army pilots. For more information, visit armyaviationmuseum.org.

November/December 2019 | 7 Turkey Trot Collinsville’s historic event remains strong

BY LISA SAVAGE

he year was 1912. THE EVENT’S HISTORY Turkey Trot Visitors arrived Since 2003, the Collinsville Historical Event: Collinsville Turkey Trot Association, which owns the Cricket The- in buggies, on Date: Saturday, Nov. 16 atre, has hosted the event as a fundraiser. Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. T It remains a community effort to bring horseback and on foot just Place: Main Street, in and around after daybreak. Sol Kerley, folks to Collinsville. The event is aimed at keeping history alive and promoting the historic downtown Collinsville wearing a tall, silk top hat, event for the sponsoring merchants. Free admission climbed to the roof of Oliver THE EARLY DAYS Hall’s Store where he worked The first Turkey Trot in 1912 sponsored in downtown Collinsville. by the Oliver Hall Co. served as a promo- A springboard awaited the tional event for the business, attracting visitors from across the region. arrival of turkeys, guineas, In the 1970s and ’80s, the Collinsville chickens and geese. At the Jaycees and Jaycettes sponsored the event, which featured contestants climbing a crack of Kerley’s whip, the greased pole to reach cash bills attached to fowl walked the board and the top and catching a greased pig. There flew into the waiting crowd. was a pie eating contest, bingo, sack races and a chance to catch a live turkey or A lot has changed since the first Turkey other fowl that flew from the top of Wright Trot over a century ago, but the event Brothers Feed Mill. remains a major part of Collinsville’s The live turkeys no longer appear at heritage. Live turkeys and other fowl the festival. However, the event’s lineup no longer descend from the rooftops. still includes many of the old and historic Instead, volunteers throw stuffed plush toy activities from the early years. “We have turkeys down, and those who catch them added food and craft vendors; children’s can redeem them at a grocery store for a activities and games; car and tractor frozen turkey in time for the Thanksgiving shows; live music; the Miss Turkey Trot holiday, says Martha Barksdale, a member contest; and Paw Parade,” Barksdale says. of the Collinsville Historical Association “We have something new and different and Turkey Trot committee. every year.”  Collinsville celebrates Turkey Trot on Nov. 16.

8 | November/December 2019 Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative The love of the game Fort Payne’s McPherson kicking for the Gators

BY LISA SAVAGE

van McPherson and his two brothers old goal posts to kick over on a side field. grew up playing soccer. But when Logan McPherson went on to play at Ehis older brother, Logan, first started Louisiana Tech University as a kicker and kicking for the football team as a ninth- punter. Evan, five years younger, continued grader at Fort Payne High School, it soon to practice kicking and also found his niche became evident his talent was special. and started on varsity in the eighth grade. Now, Evan McPherson, the middle son of Going to the camps with their old- LaDon and Amber McPherson, kicks for the est son, the McPhersons learned a lot Florida Gators. The family legacy continues about the kicking game. But it was Evan with his younger brother, Alex, kicking as a McPherson’s determination and work ethic 10th-grader at Fort Payne High School. that propelled him to the next level, and As a freshman at Florida, Evan McPher- offers rolled in from eight schools, includ- son led the Gators in scoring with 101 points ing a full scholarship to the University of and he went 17 for 19 on field goals. He was Florida, a Division 1 school. tied for sixth nationally and led all freshmen Once McPherson reached the Florida in the nation in field goal percentage, and he campus in 2018, he battled for and won was twice named the Southeastern Confer- the starting kicker job. His father asked ence Freshman of the Week. The first honor him if he wanted to be the Daniel Carlson came after a 13-6 victory over Florida head of Florida, referencing Auburn’s standout coach Dan Mullen’s former team, the Mis- kicker. “He said, ‘No, I want to be the Evan sissippi State Bulldogs, to which McPherson McPherson of Florida,’” his father says. had initially committed, and the second after It’s been incredible to watch Evan a 37-27 win over Vanderbilt. McPherson’s dream come true. This year, the Gators started the season “He has found the right place, and Fort Payne’s Evan McPherson was the No. 2 strong, and they expect another stellar sea- we couldn’t be more proud,” his mother ranked field goal kicker in the country when he signed with the Florida Gators in 2018. son for Evan McPherson. says. 

THE LOVE OF KICKING The McPhersons credit their oldest son with helping create the family’s love of the kicking game. At practice, Logan McPher- son watched the kicker practicing and fig- ured if he could kick a soccer ball, he could kick a football. “He came home and said, ‘You know how you just know when you find your niche?’” his mother says. “He said, ‘I kicked, and I liked it, and I was kind of good at it.’” He felt the need to work on his skills, so his parents took him to Montgomery every other week for year-round training and for additional camps. And Evan McPherson tagged along. While his older brother practiced, Evan McPherson kicks for the Florida McPherson would take his own ball and find Gators during a game in 2018. UAA Communications photo by Matt Stamey. UAA photo Communications

Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative November/December 2019 | 9 THE IMPACT OF BROADBAND: GAMING EDITION

High-speed Esports go connections create mainstream winners

BY JOHN CLAYTON

dozen gaming computers provide an ethereal green glow along A the stage at Lander University’s Abney Cultural Center in Greenwood, South Carolina, as esports competitors prepare for an early round at the 2019 Peach Belt Conference League of Legends Championship tournament. In traditional sports, the PBC is a mem- ber of NCAA Division II and composed of small colleges and universities in the Caro- linas and Georgia. But as esports begins to find a larger niche, this is something different and new. While the video game industry has been around for decades, Lander University esports competitors esports continues to evolve with col- prepare for the Peach lege and professional teams, increasingly Belt Conference League stunning games and graphics, and more of Legends tournament. platforms on which to play. “I grew up playing stick-and-ball sports, and I never saw the difference in intensity in professional esports team Complexity continue its support of the genre across its between those sports and esports,” says Gaming in 2017 and moved its training platforms, John Lasker, ESPN’s vice presi- J.T. Vandenbree, associate college esports center to the Cowboys complex in Frisco, dent of digital programming, told Cheddar manager at Riot Games, the creator and Texas. In 2017, 240 colleges and univer- Esports during a regular show dedicated to distributor of the battle arena game League sities competed in esports. That number gaming and esports. of Legends. “In esports, all the competitors grew to 357 in 2019, and many of those “The conversion is happening right play the same games, and they all have schools offer scholarships to promising before our eyes,” Lasker says. “Sports the same experiences. And they all get to video gamers. teams and franchises are evolving into chase the same dream.” Despite the growing popularity of esports franchises and esports teams. As Vandenbree spoke during a forum on esports on college campuses and beyond, that continues to happen, ESPN expects esports hosted by Lander University dur- the NCAA has not sanctioned esports. to continue to be there as we have been in ing the 2019 PBC tournament. Members Instead, the National Association of Col- other sports.” of the forum’s panel agreed that esports lege Esports serves as its primary govern- and video gaming are expected to continue ing body, and the NCSA — Next College THE NEXT BIG THING to broaden their reach and market shares. Student Athlete recruiting service — has Gaming consoles such as Xbox and Georgia high schools are now involved added esports to its portfolio. PlayStation have long incorporated in sanctioned esports leagues. Dallas ESPN signed on as sponsor of the Col- internet connectivity into its gameplay, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones bought a stake legiate Esports Championship and plans to but Google is taking gaming one huge

10 | November/December 2019 Gaming old school in new ways

Using internet connections to play tradi- tional games is an updated take on an old norm. “People used to play chess by mail or by messenger,” says Chris Bellinger, a Staunton, Virginia, resident and avid gamer. He partici- The Peach Belt Conference League of Legends Tournament took pates in role-playing games with friends and the big screen at Lander University’s Abney Cultural Center. family from across the miles thanks to inter- net connections and gaming platforms that allow real-time communication and play. step outside of the console. Bellinger says members of his groups, which Google was to introduce its total about eight people in each, are involved much-anticipated Stadia online in Pathfinder, Dungeons & Dragons and Star gaming platform — described Wars role-playing games. He participates in as a sort of Netflix for gam- Pathfinder and D&D games with old friends ers — in November. With the and runs another D&D game with members of cloud-based Stadia, gamers will his family. Group members include people in not even need a gaming console Virginia, Florida, South Carolina and Iowa. or PC to play. The cost is $9.99 “We’re pretty spread out, so now it’s pretty per month in the U.S. cool,” Bellinger says. “It allows us to stay in “Google may have just UNC Pembroke’s Crystian Amaya and touch. I don’t know that I would have much unveiled the future of gaming,” teammates competed at the Peach Belt contact with my friends otherwise.” wrote Tom Warren, a senior edi- Conference League of Legends Tournament. One of the current games now played tor for TheVerge.com, following through the popular Roll 20 gaming platform Google’s introduction of Stadia’s beta version at the Game Developers originated from one that Bellinger and his Conference in March. friends started at the College of Charleston The cloud-based technology, which relies on fast internet speeds, an in South Carolina. “That game ran for about array of servers placed around the world and special game controllers that eight years with different people coming in or relay commands quickly to the servers, puts more pressure on internet going out,” he says. companies and cooperatives to deliver. Roll 20 makes game play smooth and High-speed internet connections make it possible for gamers to com- easy when coupled with a communications pete, and the expansion of broadband services into rural areas makes it platform called Discord that allows for group possible for more people to enjoy the games and to take advantage of the chats and messaging. potential opportunities they offer. While those platforms are relatively new, In Kerrville, Texas, first-year Schreiner University esports coach Ryan Bellinger says traditional gamers have been Lucich says he often suffered through frustrating internet speeds and iffy taking advantage of internet connections connections while a student and esports competitor at Texas Tech in Lub- since the introduction of the World Wide Web. bock, Texas. And before that, players used text-based mul- “Obviously, the biggest challenge in running a wide, multiplayer online tiuser dungeons, or MUDs, to meet up online game is the internet connection,” says Riot Games’ Vandenbree. “We have for a gaming experience once confined to dozens of people at our company who work with telecommunications table tops or living rooms. “So, there’s always providers to try to figure out the best way to make our game packets work. been ways to game online,” Bellinger says. Anything that makes our infrastructure stronger in our country, and any other country, is good for the game.” 

November/December 2019 | 11 Seth Maddox was named the 2019 Microsoft PowerPoint 2016 world champion in New York City in July. Shown with Maddox are officials with Microsoft and Pearson, a global leader in computer- based testing for academic, government and professional programs and a sponsor of the event. The best in the world Seth Maddox named PowerPoint World Champion BY LISA SAVAGE

eth Maddox remembers taking apart an old computer his His experience with PowerPoint has been diverse. He had used family no longer used when he was a young boy. it to display song lyrics on a screen for church worship services. S “I liked cutting the wires and looking at them all and And in at least five of his school years, he used PowerPoint for seeing how it all works,” the 18-year-old Maddox says. “I didn’t class projects. know what everything did, but I tried to figure it out.” Valerie Arnold, his instructor in technology and multimedia Along the way, Maddox learned everything he could about design at Geraldine, encouraged him during his senior year to computers, and his knowledge earned him top honors at the take the test for the Microsoft Office certification. Maddox tested Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship in PowerPoint on the last day of eligibility, marking the box that he agreed to 2016 earlier this year. Maddox, a recent Geraldine High School release the test results to Microsoft. graduate, claimed the World Champion title by re-creating a PowerPoint document to exact specifications. Seth Maddox and his mother, He bested 850,000 others, ages 13 to 22, from around the world Tara Maddox, in New York City’s Times Square after he and competed with more than 150 finalists from 50 countries at was named the Microsoft the New York City Marriott Marquis in Times Square in August. PowerPoint world champion. “I thank the Lord for this opportunity,” Maddox says. “It was an incredible experience.”

SUCCESS Maddox is no stranger to success. With a 35 ACT score, he received the Spirit of Auburn Presidential Scholarship, covering full tuition for four years. He started classes in August and plans Need caption to obtain a degree in computer engineering. In high school, Maddox helped others with computer skills.

12 | November/December 2019 Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative SUPPORT SYSTEM Maddox credits his family, high school teachers and adminis- trators, and his faith in God for much of his success. His parents, Dan and Tara Maddox, encouraged him to always do his best, he says. He’s the youngest of three boys. His brothers, Jake and Luke, are 22 and 20, respectively. “They’ve all been so incredibly supportive,” he says. In high school, Arnold, other teachers and administrators allowed him to learn as much as he could about topics he loved, such as computers. “I am proud of Seth,” says Jonathan Phillips, career technology director for DeKalb County Schools. “He’s a talented young man. I am looking forward to seeing what he will achieve next.” In return, Maddox believes educators who supported him Seth Maddox credits his teachers and administrators at Geraldine High School with much of his success. From left, his high school technology contributed greatly to his success. “They helped me learn to work and multimedia design teacher Valerie Arnold, Maddox and Jonathan to be as great as I can and work beyond the scope of traditional Phillips, career technology director for DeKalb County Schools. learning,” he says. Maddox also believes his faith teaches that success isn’t ran- “I encourage all my students to take the test to have an dom. “I’m just a regular guy from Geraldine, Alabama,” he says. endorsement and certification from Microsoft on their resume, “But I think there’s a higher purpose for this platform and that and not necessarily for the sake of the competition,” Arnold says. everything happens for a reason.”  Maddox didn’t realize his results would qualify him for the state competition. He and Arnold received emails over the Christ- mas holidays alerting them he had a perfect score of 1,000 and he was the Alabama State Champion. “He is so deserving of this award,” she says. The honor qualified him for the national championship, for which he practiced online while finishing his senior year at Ger- aldine. Meanwhile, he was also juggling dual enrollment classes at Snead State Community College and a part-time job at Staples in Guntersville while he served as Student Government Associa- tion president, was a member of several other clubs and played basketball.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP After arriving for the national championship competition in Orlando in June, Maddox discovered the information he had stud- ied in order to prepare would not be on the test. “I had 50 minutes to re-create a presentation on a laptop,” he says. “I hadn’t studied for that, but I thank the Lord I had the knowledge to be able to do it.” As national PowerPoint champion, Maddox earned an all- expenses-paid trip to the World Championship in New York City, one of 155 student finalists from 50 countries who qualified for the final round of competition. He competed against 24 others in the PowerPoint portion of the competition. He says he didn’t feel as confident with so many others who had similar skills. That round of competition required less visual input and more techni- cal knowledge. “That’s the reason this one was so difficult,” he says. “But thank the Lord, I won. It was pretty wonderful.” Prizes include scholarships, a large trophy and a Microsoft laptop.

Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative November/December 2019 | 13 SOUTHERN KITCHENS ❄ ❄❄ ❄ ❄ ❄❄ ❄ A holiday delight Tips for Baking Christmas cookies ❄ GREAT COOKIES Stephany Houston, makes for a strong tradition owner of WildFlour Bakehouse, teaches t’s the most won- baking classes, where derful time of the Baker Stephany Houston she stresses important re-creates the experience steps to take before year, when cooks of making cookies with I her grandmother. getting started: around the country take to their kitchens ffRead the entire to bake Christmas recipe before you begin. A lot of cookies. people don’t, and “It’s a tradition in fami- they skip important lies,” says Stephany Houston, steps. baker and owner of WildFlour Bakehouse in Sevierville, ffAlways cream the Tennessee. “Ours was that we butter and sugar would go to my grandmother’s together. That’s house — all of us girls — and very important. make cookies. Then we would Then, mix the dry have them for the whole week ingredients and before Christmas.” incorporate the two Houston recalls her grand- together. mother, Alva Dell, using an old pastry press to create beautiful ffDo not overmix the shapes for her German spritz batter, which will cookies. That press is now long result in tough, dry, gone, but a new “old” one has crumbly cookies. taken its place. A friend found Stop mixing when it at an antiques auction and the ingredients are brought it to Houston so she growing, loyal customer base “I pretty much taught could re-create that experience has taken root. myself,” she says. just mixed together. she fondly remembers in her “Most every neighborhood Now, she teaches others grandmother’s kitchen years has their baking lady,” Houston at classes at the bakery and ago. says. “That’s what I am — the makes cookies for customers Spritz cookies are just one neighborhood baking lady, who bring in their own reci- FOOD EDITOR confection filling bakery cases who also has a storefront.” In pes. “Everybody has their own ANNE P. BRALY during the holiday season, a previous life, before open- little cookie recipe they want IS A NATIVE OF tempting customers as they ing WildFlour, Houston was to have in their homes over CHATTANOOGA, walk through the bake shop a 911 operator and “had a lot the holidays,” she says. TENNESSEE. doors. This is only Wild- of downtime,” giving her the Flour’s second year in busi- opportunity to watch YouTube ness, but as word spreads, a videos about cookie decorating. 14 | November/December 2019 ❄ STEPHANY’S GINGERBREAD MEN

3/4 cup butter 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed 3/4 cup molasses 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon Chinese five spice 2 teaspoons cinnamon 2 teaspoons ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon cloves 1 large egg 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

In a saucepan over low heat, melt butter, then stir in brown sugar, molasses, salt and spices. Transfer the mixture to a medium- sized mixing bowl, let it cool to lukewarm, then beat in the egg. Whisk the baking powder and soda into the flour, then stir into the molasses mix- ture. The dough will be very soft and sticky, ALVA DELL’S CHRISTMAS SPRITZ patterns are good for the holidays. Then, but don’t be tempted to add more flour. It As you can tell by reading, Alva wrote this load the press with the dough. Ratchet will firm up once it’s chilled. recipe for her family. out the dough onto an ungreased cookie Divide the dough in half and pat each sheet. This takes practice, so be prepared half into a thick rectangle. Wrap well 2 cups all-purpose flour to mess up at first. Just return the not- and refrigerate for 1 hour or longer. The 1/2 cup granulated sugar so-good ones to the dough ball and start dough may be sticky and hard to roll if not 1/4 teaspoon salt again. Some people like larger cookies that thoroughly chilled, so make sure it’s chilled 1 teaspoon vanilla extract require two or three cranks. Others like a before continuing. 1/2 teaspoon almond extract more dainty cookie that requires just one Heat oven to 350 F. Once the dough has 1 large egg crank of the cookie press. My mum some- chilled, take one piece of dough out of the 1/2 pound unsalted butter at oomr times twisted her wrist a little when making refrigerator and flour a clean work surface. temperature, cut into small cubes these to get a swirly pattern going on. Roll the dough to a thickness of 1/8 to 1/4 Decorations of choice Bake the cookies at 350 F for 10-12 inch. The thinner you roll the dough, the minutes. As they bake, get your decorations crispier the cookie. Flour both the top and Heat oven to 350 F. Whisk together the ready, because you’ll need to act fast once bottom of the dough if it starts to stick. flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl, then they come out of the oven. Cut out shapes with a floured cookie cut- sprinkle with vanilla and almond extracts. The cookies will not brown, so don’t wait ter, cutting them as close to one another Crack the egg in the center of the bowl, for that to happen. As soon as they come as possible to minimize waste. Transfer then dot the flour mixture with the pieces out of the oven, start decorating them. My cookies to ungreased cookie sheets. Bake of butter. Mix everything together with your favorite toppings are colored sugar and the cookies until slightly browned around clean hands until you get a dough. Try not pieces of walnuts stuck in the center of the the edges — 8 to 12 minutes — or until they to knead too much, as this makes tough star pattern. feel firm. Let cookies cool on baking sheet cookies. You just want the dough to come Cool the cookies on the sheet for 5 min- for several minutes until set. Then, remove together cohesively. utes, then carefully remove them to a rack. to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat Press the dough through a cookie press Let cool completely before putting them with remaining dough. Decorate cookies as to make traditional spritz. Put on the away. These cookies freeze well.  desired. die of your choice — star and snowflake ❄ November/December❄ 2019 | 15 ❄ Presort STD US Postage PAID Permit #21 Freeport OH P.O. Box 217 • 144 McCurdy Ave. N. Rainsville, AL 35986

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