During June, Indiana’s electric cooperatives sponsor selected students entering their senior year of high school to go on a life-changing educational adventure to Washington, D.C. Highlights of this seven-day trip include visits to historic monuments and museums, meetings on Capitol Hill with Indiana’s congressional delegation, the opportunity to make lifelong friends, and much more.
Valerie Hinkle, Anna Morehouse, Nolan Curts, and Audrey Nelson represented Carroll White REMC at the 2024 Youth Tour, which took place June 16-24. Students selected for the trip had the opportunity to compete for college scholarships by applying for the Youth Leadership Council.
To be eligible to attend Youth Tour, the students’ family must be REMC members and have demonstrated participation and leadership in their school and community through organizations and activities.
VALERIE HINKLE
Valerie Hinkle is the daughter of Candice and Jeremy Hinkle of Logansport and a student at Pioneer High School. Since her sophomore year, she has been the school mascot — the black panther.
Hinkle received the 4-H Junior Leader Award and the 4-H Muzzleloading Award. “I was awarded this for outstanding work with the muzzleloading shoots and meetings,” she said. This school year, she was selected as a 4-H camp counselor for Areas 8 and 9.
In addition to her interest in 4-H, Hinkle enjoys the vocal arts. “I was selected to be part of the Indiana All-State Honor Choir to sing at the Indiana Music Education Association Conference in Fort Wayne. I was also awarded gold for all four of my district solos for Solo and Ensemble and received gold awards at state.”
Hinkle’s artistic interests extend to theater, being part of the cast in the school musicals and plays. “I played the role of Mrs. Baskin in the musical production of Big, the Musical and the roles of Mary and Reverend in A Trip to the Moon.” In this year’s production of The Wizard of Oz, Hinkle performed the roles of Jitterbug, Poppy, Ozian beautician, Crow, and Auntie Em.
She is a class officer. Since freshman year, she has been the event coordinator for class officers.
In the community, Hinkle is a church leader. She is a Purdue Lutheran Ministry volunteer and assists in leading student activities. “I also have helped lead multiple services for the residents of Woodbridge Nursing Home,” she said.
ANNA MOREHOUSE
Anna Morehouse is the daughter of Jean and Doug Morehouse of Brookston. She is an honor roll student at William Henry Harrison High School and was a National Junior Honor Society member. Morehouse enjoys sports and music competitions in high school.
“I am a leader on the varsity swim team,” said Morehouse. “Last year, I received the most improved award due to many factors, including dropping over six seconds in the 100 freestyle. For reference, time drops in this event are usually measured in tenths of seconds at a time!”
She also plays lacrosse. “I started playing lacrosse as a sophomore, and I plan to continue through my senior year,” said Morehouse. “I never touched a lacrosse stick before I started playing last year, and I ended up being on the starting lineup and received the most-improved award.”
Vocal music is another interest of Morehouse’s. “I started in beginning choir my freshman year and auditioned for an all-girls choir called Myriads in the second semester. I was in another all-girls jazz choir my sophomore year. Currently, I am in the Chamber Choir, a male and female audition group that is the highest choral group at Harrison.”
Morehouse is an active 4-H member. “I showed pigs for my first year in White County 4-H, and I have shown cattle every year since,” she said. “My dad and I usually help with the fairground cleanups. I have also volunteered at the Caramel Apple Booth at the Apple Popcorn Festival for Prairie Township.”
NOLAN CURTS
Nolan Curts is the son of Ashley Brown and Jon Curts. He lives in Lafayette and attends McCutcheon High School.
Curts is in Trap Club, shooting trap with a shotgun. He is also a member of the Robotics Club and swims. He had never visited Washington and was looking forward to this exciting experience.
AUDREY NELSON
Audrey Nelson is the daughter of Melissa and Justin Nelson. She lives in Camden and attends Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School. She is active in sports, FFA, and 4-H.
“In track and field, I participate in the 400, 800, pole vault, 200m and 100m,” said Nelson. She was a manager in cross country for one year due to surgery and ran during her second year. “I also swam in the short and mid-distance races.”
“I was one of the two recreation leaders in the 4-H Junior Leaders program,” she said. “I’ve mentored third-grade students in the goat project to help develop their skills in the show arena.”
Only Hinkle has previously visited Washington of the four students attending Youth Tour this year.
Youth Tour participants experience how our government operates, learn about the complexities of the electric utility industry, discover the unique characteristics of cooperative business enterprise, as well as meet and work with hundreds of peers from throughout the United States. The trip also gives students the opportunity to see our nation’s rich history and visit famous national monuments and government buildings.
