Tyler June and Chelsea Bullock were among 47 South Carolina rising high school seniors on Youth Tour 2011, a six-day trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by Marlboro Electric Cooperative. They joined more than 1500 students from across the nation in Washington, D.C.
June is a student at Latta High School and the son of Royce and Amanda June of Latta.
Bullock attends Marlboro County High School and the daughter of Joey and Tammy Bullock.
“We had the time of our lives,” said Bullock.
The students visited landmarks, toured historic sites and museums, the Capitol, took a ride down the Potomac on a chartered boat and much more. They also learned about government and electric cooperatives, and met with their state’s congressional delegation. Each year in June, an action-filled week provides high school students opportunities to learn first-hand what it’s like to be involved in politics, community service and the energy industry. Students meet their elected representatives in the U.S. House and Senate, see historic sites, and meet other students from across the country who participate in their state’s Youth Tour program.
“It was great to see our nation’s capital, and I really enjoyed touring the museums and monuments,” June said. “It was one of the best trips that I have ever been on.”
In addition to taking in the sights of the nation’s capital, all the state groups will convene for National Youth Day, sponsored by NRECA, to learn from public figures and other inspirational speakers. This year’s Youth Day agenda includes Mike Schlappi, a four-time Paralympic Medallist and two-time world Champion Wheelchair Basketball champion. 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.”
Marlboro Electric will be offering this opportunity of a lifetime again to two area high school juniors in Marlboro or Dillon County. Students selected will receive an all-expense paid educational experience to Washington, DC. In addition, one lucky student on the tour will have the opportunity to win a $2,500 college scholarship on a statewide cooperative level.
Applications will be available December 1, 2011 – January 31, 2012 at www.marlboroelectric.coop/youthtour or contact Christy Overstreet, Marketing & Communications Representative at (843) 479-3855. A panel of judges will select who will represent Marlboro Electric Cooperative for the next Washington Youth Tour in June 2012.
The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour is a joint effort of local electric co-ops, their statewide co-op associations, and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), based in Arlington, Va.
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 consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives, which provide electric service to 42 million people in 47 states.
