Local Students Represent White River Valley Electric Cooperative in Washington, D.C. Through Youth Tour Program
Youth Tour Winners Pictured Left to Right: Gabrielle Thompson (Forsyth), Tyler Stankewitz (Nixa), and Ella Green (Hollister)
Branson, Missouri –
White River Valley Electric Cooperative (WRVEC) sent three outstanding high school juniors on an all-expense-paid trip to the United States capital on June 15 as part of Missouri’s 62nd annual Missouri Electric Cooperative Youth Tour.
Gabrielle Thompson (Forsyth), Tyler Stankewitz (Nixa), and Ella Green (Hollister) were chosen from a group of 13 finalists during WRVEC’s annual Youth Tour banquet held on March 28 at the College of the Ozarks.
Green, Stankewitz, and Thompson joined 105 other students representing electric cooperatives around the state for a week of hands-on experiences in civic engagement, leadership, and
community service.
The students also participated in Electric Youth Day, a program coordinated by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association that united 2,000 Youth Tour delegates from across the United States. Students listened to influential speakers like Mike Schlappi, a four-time Paralympic medalist and two-time world wheelchair basketball champion, and government leaders.
“This program opened the door to meeting other inspired youth from all over the state, who wholeheartedly broadened my understanding of leadership and the value of community,” said Gabrielle Thompson. “That was truly a remarkable experience that I will sincerely cherish for the rest of my life!”
WRVEC’s representatives toured some of the nation’s most famous sites, such as the Smithsonian Institution’s museums, Arlington National Cemetery, and the International Spy Museum. They also met with congressional representatives and formed connections with students from five other states during a Potomac River sightseeing and dance cruise.
Since 1958, the nation’s cooperative electric utilities have sponsored more than 60,000 high school students on this trip of a lifetime. WRVEC is proud to invest in the next generation of leaders through programs like Youth Tour. For more information, please go to whiteriver.org/community/youth-programs/youth-tour/.
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About White River Valley Electric Cooperative
White River Valley Electric Cooperative is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative dedicated to ensuring our members receive safe and reliable service in their homes and businesses across five southwest Missouri counties including Ozark, Taney, Stone, Christian and Douglas.
