Local students selected for DC youth tour.

The six high school students who attended Youth Tour 2019 in Washington, DC June 15-20, include: front row, left to right – Alexandria Alma, Frederic; Hannah Spencer, South Boardman; Delaney Bryce, Montague; back row, left to right – Adam Paga, Boyne City; Jäeger Griswold, Central Lake; and Pierce Newell, Rothbury.

Local students selected for DC youth tour.

Two local high school students recently had the opportunity to tour Washington, DC in June through the sponsorship of Great Lakes Energy (GLE). Youth Tour 2019, sponsored by electric cooperatives like GLE from across the country, welcomed around 1,800 high school students to our nation’s capital for five days.

GLE’s six students were Pierce Newell, Rothbury; Delaney Bryce, Montague; Alexandria Alma, Frederic; Jäeger Griswold, Central Lake; Adam Paga, Boyne City; and Hannah Spencer, South Boardman.

Students traveled to Washington via motor coach. They toured historical locations in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and Baltimore, Maryland along the way. Once in Washington, they learned history first-hand through visits to monuments, museums, and memorials. A behind-the-scenes look at our nation’s justice and political system through visits with legislators and tours of various legislative buildings provided students with greater insight into what it means to be a citizen.

They soaked up city culture at local eating spots and a live theatre production, and they learned the background and challenges of electric cooperatives that bring power to rural areas over roughly 75 percent of our nation’s landmass.

The Youth Tour program has hosted over 50,000 students from rural areas since 1958. GLE attendees, whose parents or guardians are members of the electric cooperative, were selected based on an application and interview process.

Visit cooperativeyouthtour.com for additional information or to apply. Applications for 2020 open in December. Follow Youth Tour activities and adventures on Facebook at facebook.com/CooperativeYouthTour/.