Students Return from Washington D.C.

Jonathan Daniel of Putnam County and Bitleigh Vu of Baldwin County recently represented Tri-County EMC on the Washington Youth Tour, a week-long leadership experience exclusively for teens sponsored by the electric cooperatives in Georgia, including Tri-County EMC.

From June 8-15, Daniel and Vu joined 1,700 of their talented and ambitious peers in Washington, D.C. to build leadership skills, understand the importance of civic involvement and community service and to tour the nation’s historic sites to gain a greater understanding of the country’s rich and storied heritage. When combined, various aspects of the trip provide a unique lesson that cannot be duplicated in any classroom. 

In Georgia, this year’s contingent included 113 student delegates, 14 chaperones and three tour directors who attended a kick-off banquet in Atlanta for the student delegates and their families before departing the next morning for D.C. for the remainder of the trip.

 “The students get to see history come to life as they learn of the people and places which helped shape our country,” says Kim Broun, Communications Specialist at Tri-County EMC. “They meet delegates from across the country from different walks of life, different backgrounds and different life experiences to give them a broader perspective and deeper appreciation of the world at large.”  

While in D.C., stops included Mount Vernon, Arlington Cemetery, U.S. Capitol, National Archives, National Cathedral, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Museums and Kennedy Center. The students also toured the revered Jefferson, Lincoln, FDR, MLK, WWII, Vietnam and Korean War memorials. 

In addition to taking in the sights of the nation’s capital, students gained perspective on some of today’s important issues and their role as involved citizens. Everyone had the opportunity to engage with staff and/ or members of Georgia's congressional delegation, including personal visits with Senators David Perdue and Johnny Isakson and U.S. Reps. Sanford Bishop and Austin Scott. 

Finally, all state groups convened for National Youth Day, sponsored by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, to learn from public figures and other inspirational speakers, including Olympic gold medalist and author Mike Schlappi. 

This year’s delegates will join nearly 50,000 students from rural areas and small towns across America as alumni of the Washington Youth Tour. (31013001)

To learn more about the trip, visit www.tri-countyemc.com/washingtonyouthtour.cms. The application deadline for the 2018 Washington Youth Tour is February 15. 

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