Cuivre River Youth Tour delegates travel to D.C.
One-hundred and six high school students participated in Missouri's 55th annual Missouri Electric Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., June 8-14.
Local delegates were Jessie Jarvis, Marthasville; Faith Van Horn, Warrenton; Nathan Nordwald, Warrenton; Rishi Kondapaneni, Dardenne Prairie; Isabella Linstruth; Warrenton, and Madelyn Guss, Truxton. They were sponsored by Cuivre River Electric Cooperative, Troy.
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 Chris Massman, Vice President of Member Services for the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives.
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. The group also took a sightseeing and dance cruise on the Potomac River one evening with delegates from other states.
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 more than 1,800 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, Cuivre River has sponsored over 200 Youth Tour delegates for visits to Washington, D.C. The annual contest is open to high school juniors who live and attend school in Cuivre River’s general service area, or who have Cuivre River Electric service in their homes.
Cuivre River Electric Cooperative is the largest member-owned electric distribution cooperative in Missouri. It provides service to more than 65,000 residential, business, commercial, industrial and agricultural members in Lincoln, Pike, St. Charles and Warren counties. For more information on the Youth Tour program visit www.cuivre.com, email [email protected] or call 800-392-3709 ext. 4837.