This summer, 10 local high school students embarked on a journey to learn more about our nation’s government as PEC’s representatives in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour program.
Each year, PEC holds an essay contest for students in grades 10-12 and sends the winners on an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. In June, our delegates joined about 1,500 students from electric cooperatives all across America to explore our nation’s history through museums, monuments and memorials. They even met some of our U.S. representatives and senators (including our vice president)!
Take a trip down memory lane with our delegates, and see what they took away from this incredible experience!
”When you combine these wonderful people and close friends that I made with everything we did in D.C., the trip really did exceed my expectations, and it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I would recommend to anyone in the future.”
Michael Martinets, Dripping Springs High School
”The memories I took back with me are something I can’t get from just visiting Washington, D.C. The people you meet and interact with make this the experience of a lifetime. I stepped out of my comfort zone to make friends and, best of all, I came back with newfound pride for our nation.”
Valerie Martin, Leander High School
”[Vice President Mike Pence] walked our way, and I stuck out my hand with a smile on my face, and we shook hands. It was a moment that probably won’t ever happen again in my life, and [one that] I will never forget.”
Megan Gilliam, Jack C. Hays High School
Interested in applying for the 2018 Youth Tour trip?
Visit pec.coop/youth-tour for this year’s essay topic and contest guidelines. The deadline to apply is Oct. 25.
