Two high school students have been selected to represent Sam Houston Electric Cooperative on the annual Government-in-Action Youth Tour trip to Washington, D.C. They will join more than 150 other students representing electric cooperatives from across Texas for a weeklong educational visit to the nation’s capital in June.
Dixie Hopson, a junior at Leggett High School, and Rilyn Long, a sophomore at Livingston High School, were selected to represent the Co-op.
“We had great applicants this year, so it was a tough decision,” said Garrett Wishon, communications specialist. “However, Dixie and Rilyn gave impressive interviews, and I could not be more excited for the both of them to go on this educational opportunity.”
Hopson participates in several sports at Leggett High School: volleyball, basketball and cross-country. She is also involved in the drama club, FFA and her church youth group. After high school, Hopson plans on attending college and working in the medical field.
Long is the Livingston High School student council secretary and is in various academic clubs. She also attends church with her family and baby-sits. She participated in the iMas Academy STEM camp at Stephen F. Austin University, the Rice University Genome Engineering Precollege course, and several science and math competitions. Long has a passion for these subjects and wants to attend Rice University after high school.
This will be the first trip to Washington for both students.
While in D.C., they’ll visit historic sites, meet their Texas representatives and visit the U.S. Capitol, while attending events hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
“I am so excited to visit the city,” Hopson said. “I think seeing the iconic statues and buildings where influential people live will be amazing.”
This is the 58th year Texas Electric Cooperatives has sent students on the trip. However, this will be the first year Sam Houston EC representatives will attend.
