Local youth attend electric cooperative tour of Washington.

Left to right: High school students Sarah Pavey (Frederic), Janay Smith (South Boardman), Sanford Narmore (Custer), Emily Kurburski (Harbor Springs) and Brooke Thurow (Scottville) attended the Electric Co-op Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. June 13-18 as representatives of Great Lakes Energy.

Two Mason County high school students visited Washington, D.C. during the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour June 13-18. Sanford Narmore of Custer and Brooke Thurow of Riverton Township, whose parents are members of Great Lakes Energy electrical cooperative, were among five representatives of Great Lakes Energy to attend the tour.

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) hosts 1,700 future energy leaders for their annual Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. Some of the nation’s best and brightest high school students meet with their elected officials on Capitol Hill, train in leadership and form a network with their peers from across the nation.

Electric co-ops from nearly every state select participants to receive the expense-paid trip. As the future of tomorrow’s co-ops, these youth have a close-up look at American government.

“The annual Youth Tour is a vital opportunity for youth living in co-op territory to visit our nation’s capital and learn about the importance of electric cooperatives,” said NRECA CEO Jo Ann Emerson. “Our youth are our future leaders, politicians and educators, and the Youth Tour is a strong reminder each year of how bright that future will be.”

Previous Youth Tour participants have become university presidents, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, and members of Congress. In fact, Apple CEO Tim Cook credited the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour with his first trip to Washington in his commencement speech to graduates of The George Washington University this year. Over the past 51 years, nearly 50,000 students have visited Washington through the Youth Tour.

NRECA is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 private, not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.

Great Lakes Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative looking out for over 120,000 members in 26 counties throughout western Michigan.