BREC Sends Local Students on the “Trip of a Lifetime” to Washington D.C.

Ninety-three high school students participated in Missouri's 59th annual Missouri Electric Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., June 13-19. Black River Electric Cooperative sponsored three local delegates (from left): Piper Fitzgerald of Lesterville R-IV, Laura Mayhew of Fredericktown R-I and Klete Beel of Leopold R-III.

After two years of virtual tours, the Youth Tour headed back to Washington this year. The seven-day tour provides 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.

“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 John Singleton, General Manager and CEO of Black River Electric Cooperative.

Highlights included the young people visiting with representatives from their congressional districts and touring famous monuments, the Smithsonian Institution’s museums and Arlington National Cemetery and for the first time, touring the International Spy Museum. The group also took a sightseeing cruise on the Potomac River one evening.

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 over 1,000 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 55,000 high school juniors and seniors for visits to their U.S. congressional delegations, energy and grassroots government education sessions and sightseeing in Washington. For more information about the BREC Youth Tour program, please go to www.brec.coop/brec-essay-contest.

Photo: BREC Youth Tour Delegates with Congressman Jason Smith.