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Area students take part in Washington, D.C., Youth Tour

Special to Highlands Today

Published: June 29, 2009

WAUCHULA - Four high school students from Peace River Electric Cooperative's (PRECO) service territory joined with approximately 1,500 other high school students from across the country who participated in the annual Youth Tour to Washington, D.C.

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), headquartered in Washington, has coordinated the Youth Tour program for over 40 years, sending high school students to visit the nation's capitol.

Each June, the Youth Tour educates young people about the history and development of rural electrification and promotes a better understanding of the value of rural electric cooperatives and their importance in the economic development of rural areas.

Local students Ebonie Shannon, Avon Park High School, Avon Park; Denise Montanez, Hardee County High School, Wauchula; Derek Woods, Fort Meade High School, Fort Meade; and Nicole Liles, Palmetto High School, Palmetto, attended the week-long event as PRECO's representatives.

Each student was required to write a short essay and submit an application. The faculty of each high school chose one student to represent their respective school in the final selection process.

One of the highlights of the tour was when the 30 students from Florida electric cooperatives met with Florida Congressmen Allen Boyd, District 2; Adam Putnam, District 12; Tom Rooney, District 16; Cliff Stearns, District 6; and Jeff Miller, District 1, on the steps of the Capitol building for a photo. During the week, they visited many area historical sites such as the White House, National Cathedral, Washington Memorial, Holocaust Museum and numerous war memorials.

Since 1964, the nation's electric cooperatives have sponsored more than 40,000 high school juniors for visits to their U.S. congressional delegations, energy and grassroots government education sessions, and sightseeing in Washington, D.C.

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