Investing in the leaders of tomorrow

[L-R] Olivia Rojas, Gabriel Hinsley
[L-R] Olivia Rojas, Gabriel Hinsley

Ever wonder what it is like to walk the halls of the Capitol with members of Congress? Two local students, Olivia Rojas and Gabriel Hinsley, 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.

Olivia, a student at Lee County High School, and Gabriel, a student at Overhills High School, joined over 1,800 youth from across the country June 9-15 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 Morris McClelion, Central Electric General Manager and CEO. “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 will be a high school junior or senior during the 2019-20 school year, the application period for next year’s Youth Tour will begin in September and run through January 2019. For more information about this great program, visit the “Cooperative Youth Tour” page at CEMCPower.com.