Clark County REMC delegates to the Indiana Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., were, from left, Kyle Shields, Nicholas Meriwether, Kyle Tucker, Ethan Furnish and Rebekah Barger.

The Indiana Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., has taken high school students to the nation’s capital for one week in June every year since the 1960s. This year, Clark County REMC sponsored five students on the weeklong trip.

This year’s delegates representing the cooperative were: Rebekah Barger, Ethan Furnish, Nicholas Meriwether, Kyle Shields and Kyle Tucker. Clark County REMC employee Amber Bowman served as a chaperone for the trip.

Students applied, submitted a short essay and were then chosen by Clark County REMC to participate in this trip of a lifetime.

During the trip, students gained a personal understanding of American history and their roles as citizens by meeting congressional representatives. The students also learned more about electric cooperatives.

The group poses in front of the White House with Clark County REMC employee Amber Bowman, center, who served as a chaperone.

A delegation of 107 Indiana students representing 36 Indiana electric cooperatives took part in this year’s Youth Tour. More than 1,800 students from 46 states traveled to D.C. for the weeklong experience.

The agenda for the Indiana students included visiting the Flight 93 Memorial, the Gettysburg Battlefield, Arlington National Cemetery, the Smithsonian museums, the National Mall memorials, the National Museum of the Marine Corps and much more. They also participated in a rally during which speakers provided insight into the important roles electric cooperatives play in their communities.

Nearly 50,000 students from rural areas and small towns across America have participated in this program. Some of the Youth Tour alumni have gone on to design airplanes, to lead companies and to serve in the highest ranks of our government, including the U.S. Senate.

If you want to be part of this fun (free!) week in Washington, D.C., please check out our publications and website this fall for more information and how to apply.

Applicants applying for the 2018 Youth Tour must have completed their junior year in high school and be enrolled for their senior year.