Nine students from area high schools were among the 97 around the state who participated in Missouri’s 52nd annual Missouri Electric Youth Tour to Washington, D.C.
The seven-day tour June 12-18 provided an action-filled week for high school students, offering them opportunities to learn firsthand what it is like to be involved in politics, leadership positions, community service and today’s pressing issues.
Sponsored by Intercounty Electric Cooperative of Licking for the tour were: Sammy Garrett, Houston; Aubrey Howell, Summersville; Sydnee Frisbee, Cabool; Hannah Pritchett, Rolla; Talor Hall, Licking; Liam Davis, Ft. Leonard Wood; Robyn Rhodes, Mountain Grove; Caralee Lynch; St. James; and Josh Sirois, Salem.
“The youth tour is the highlight of the summer for many students, and we’re proud to send our best and brightest to Washington, D.C. this year to participate,” said Mike Marsch, director of member services for the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives.
Highlights included the students visiting with representatives from their congressional districts and touring famous monuments, the Smithsonian Institution’s museums and Arlington National Cemetery. The group also took a sightseeing and dance cruise on the Potomac River one evening with delegates from other states.
Other events of the week included participation in the Electric Youth Day, during which a special program coordinated by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association brought together more than 1,600 Youth Tour delegates from across the United States. The delegates enjoyed featured speeches by government leaders and motivational speakers, such as Mike Schlappi, an inspiring four-time Paralympic medalist and two-time world wheelchair basketball champion.
Since 1964, the nation’s cooperative electric utilities have sponsored more than 50,000 high school juniors and seniors for visits to their U.S. congressional delegations, energy and grassroots government education sessions and sightseeing in Washington.