Hilary Barker, Alex Cantu, Josh
Dietz, Will Frizzell, Ciara Pittman and Austin Quarles were among the over 1,500 high school students from across the country who participated in the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour held June 13-19, 2008, in Washington, D.C. An annual tradition for more than four decades, the Youth Tour is a week-long event packed with opportunities to learn first-hand what it is like to be involved in politics, community service and today's pressing issues.
The Tennessee's Youth Tour participants listed above were sponsored by Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative.
Students won the expense-paid trip for writing the best short stories in their cooperative's service areas. Each wrote a short story titled "Energizing our Communities." The contest provides an opportunity for the high schoolers to discover how their member-owned electric co-ops provide more than just electricity to their communities. Sequatchie County High School Student, Will Frizzell was named the first place winner in this year's state-wide writing contest. He will be awarded a $3000 college scholarship for his efforts.
Each year in June, students board busses and planes bound for Washington D.C. The action-filled week provides opportunities for them to learn first-hand what it is like to be involved in politics, community service and today's pressing issues. Highlights included meeting with their elected representatives in the U.S. House and Senate to discuss the process of government and issues of the day, and increasing their knowledge of cooperative electric utilities and American history.
The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has been a joint effort of local electric co-ops, such as SVEC, their statewide co-op associations, and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association for more than 40 years.
While in Washington, Tennessee's group saw historic monuments and memorials, explored the museums of the Smithsonian Institution and toured the homes of former presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Other stops included Arlington National Cemetery, where the group laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, the Washington National Cathedral and the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Students also enjoyed seeing a performance of "Shear Madness" at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Later in the tour, Tennessee's Youth Tour contingent posed for photos with Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker on the steps of the Capitol, which was followed by a breakfast with Tennessee's representatives in the Rayburn House Office Building where representatives discussed the process of government and issues of the day.
In addition to taking in the sights and sounds of the nation's capital, all the state groups convened for National Youth Day on June 16 to learn from public figures and other inspirational speakers. This year's Youth Day agenda included Mike Schlappi, a four-time Paralympic Medallist and two-time world Champion Wheelchair Basketball champion. Mr. Schlappi shares his inspiring message for every American, young or old: "Just because you can't stand up, doesn't mean you can't stand out." As president of Mike Schlappi Communications, he spreads that word to audiences ranging from students to chief executive officers, from rookies to Olympic champions, and from small gatherings to major conventions.
The students were also treated to an amazing portrayal of a very influential United States Senator who authored the laws creating the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Rural Electrification Act (REA) in the early 1930s. Former Nebraska State Senator David Landis tells the story of the late U.S. Senator George W. Norris (R-NE), in character, explaining the formation of and the politics surrounding the creation of electric cooperatives and the Rural Electrification Act.
Since 1964, the nation's cooperative electric utilities have sponsored more than 40,000 high school juniors and seniors for visits to their U.S. congressional delegations, energy and grassroots government education sessions, and sightseeing in Washington. NRECA is the national service organization representing the nation's more than 900 private, not-for-profit consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide electric service to 42 million people in 47 states. For more information, please go to
http://www.youthtour.coop.
