Ever wonder what it is like to walk the halls of the Capitol with members of Congress? Two local students, Aubrey Withrow and Alexis Hewitt, were recently sponsored by Central Electric to take the trip of a lifetime as part of the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C.

Aubrey, a student at Union Pines High School, and Alexis, a student at Southern Lee High School, joined over 1,800 youth from across the country in D.C. While there, they visited many of D.C.’s historic memorials, monuments and museums, and built connections with hundreds of other future leaders from across the country. On Capitol Hill, the group engaged in discussions with several members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation, which was a highlight for many.

“The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour provides a great opportunity for our youth to engage with the political process and interact with our local representatives in Washington,” said Eddie Oldham, Central Electric CEO and General Manager. “Each year, our Youth Tour representatives come back with an exciting and enthusiastic perspective on the democratic process and the cooperative business model.”

Central Electric sponsors two local high school students each year for the Youth Tour. If you are a junior or senior in high school, the application period for next year’s Youth Tour will begin in September and runs through January 2020. For more information about this great program, visit the “Cooperative Youth Tour” page.