For 58 years, America's electric cooperatives have brought students together from communities across America to build connections and practice leadership on the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. Approximately 1,800 high school students gathered in Washington, D.C., June 18-23 as the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour delegates. Forty-three students from North Carolina participated this year, joining peers representing electric co-ops in 43 states. Two local delegates, sponsored by Lumbee River EMC, participated in the week-long opportunity.
Cassidy Chavis, a rising senior at Purnell Swett High School, and Taylor Valerio, a rising senior at Seventy-First High School, represented Lumbee River EMC on the 2023 tour. After completing an application and essay about how different life would be without electricity, both students earned the opportunity to attend.
On the Youth Tour, students participated in leadership training, conversed with elected officials, jumpstarted their national peer network, learned about electric cooperatives, and toured D.C.'s historical monuments and museums.
"I learned a lot about our Nation's capital and got to see and experience a lot," said Chavis. "I appreciate LREMC making this trip possible. I encourage rising seniors to take advantage of this opportunity next year," said Valerio.
On the seven-day tour, students learned about United States history at the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and many Smithsonian museums. The delegates paid their respects to soldiers who lost their lives in service to the nation at Arlington National Cemetery and visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and the Korean War Veterans Memorial. Several North Carolina congressional delegation members answered policy questions and offered advice to the students in a meeting on Capitol Hill.
David Spencer, LREMC communication specialist, joined the group as Youth Advisor. "Our Youth Tourists explored D.C. with confidence and curiosity, and that was great to see," said Spencer. "The Youth Tour emphasizes the importance of civic engagement and the fact that politics touch every aspect of life. We hope the experiences and skills our delegates gained during the trip will benefit them on their journey to becoming our next great leaders."