Youth Visit Nation’s Capital; See Government in Action
Kelly Lintz of Mt. Union and Andrew Nelson of Middletown were among the more than 1,500 high school students from across the country who participated in the Rural Electric Youth Tour held June 9-15 in Washington, D.C. They were sponsored by Access Energy Cooperative of Mt. Pleasant.
Each year in June, an activity-filled week affords these high school students opportunities to learn first-hand what it is like to be involved in politics, community development and today’s social issues.
“We support the Youth Tour because we realize that today’s teenagers need an opportunity to experience government first-hand,” says Kimberly Brumbaugh, Director of Marketing and Communications for Access Energy Cooperative. “The Youth Tour is a life-changing experience for many of the participants. Educational opportunities such as the Youth Tour, are extremely important to cooperatives and the communities we serve.”
While in Washington, the Iowa Youth Tour delegation, made up of 42 students, met with congressional leaders, visited historic sites including Arlington National Cemetery and Mount Vernon. The group also explored the Smithsonian museums and nearby monuments. The theme of the 2007 Youth Tour was “Commitment to Community.”
Highlights included meeting with their elected representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senators Harkin and Grassley to discuss the process of government and issues of the day – including renewable energy and many topics facing rural communities. The trip also helps to increase the participants’ knowledge of cooperative electric utilities and American history.
Lintz said she had the experience of a lifetime working with peers from other states and the NRECA staff during the Washington stay.
“While in Washington, D.C., I met people from all over Iowa and the country and visited historical monuments, museums and Capitol Hill,” she said. “I learned so much about our nation’s history and the role of electric cooperatives in the energy industry.”
“What I learned on the Youth Tour makes me proud to be an American and to show that America’s young people are involved and care about this country and our communities,” Nelson said.
In addition to taking in the sights and sounds of the nation’s capital, all the state groups convened for Rural Electric Youth Day. Mike Schlappi, a four-time Paralympic Medalist and two-time world Champion Wheelchair Basketball champion. delivered an inspiring message – “Just because you can’t stand up, doesn’t mean you can’t stand out.” The students also heard from Glenn English, chief operating officer of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.