Local Youth Travel to Washington, DC

 Tipmont REMC was a proud sponsor of the 2010 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. Area students participating in this year’s trip included Gabby Harding from Attica High School, Erika Becker from Benton Central, Monique Parent from Central Catholic, Celeste Martin and Isaac Taylor from Fountain Central, Julia Fraseur from Harrison, Samantha Johnston from McCutcheon, Jacob Bohlander, Nicole Kingma, and Kiera Bonebrake from North Montgomery, and Madison Fouty from Southmont. This trip marks the 51st year that Indiana’s electric cooperatives have hosted the Youth Tour giving young Hoosiers the opportunity to visit our nation’s capital to learn about government and electric cooperatives.

Local students attend the 2010 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. Left to right, Erika Becker, Nicole Kingma, Kiera Bonebrake, Celeste Martin, Gabby Harding, Samantha Johnston, Madison Fouty, Isaac Taylor, Julia Fraseur, Monique Parent, and Jacob Bohlander.

This year’s trip began on June 10 in Indianapolis with a tour of the Indiana Statehouse and an orientation program at Indiana Statewide Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. Delegates returned home on June 17.

According to Sasha Clements, Tipmont’s Communications Coordinator, the 2010 Indiana delegation was comprised of 73 students from all over the state, each selected by his/her local cooperative. This year, nearly 1,500 students from across the country joined Indiana’s delegation in Washington for the four-day conference hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

“Tipmont is pleased to be able to provide this opportunity for our local students,” Clements said. “It’s a great trip and a wonderful chance to see the sights, make new friends and learn how everyone, including young people, can make a difference in the political process.”

On the way to Washington, students visited Gettysburg Battlefield and Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. While in the nation’s capital, the tour included visits to sights such as Arlington National Cemetery; the Lincoln, Jefferson and war memorials, the National Mall Museums, the Newseum, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The delegates were honored to meet with Hoosier natives Lee Hamilton and C-SPAN CEO, Brian Lamb. Mr. Hamilton is a former Congressman from Indiana and current Director of the Woodrow Wilson Center.

During the “Youth Tour Rally,” students heard about the Our Energy, Our Future™ project which focuses on the importance of responsible carbon legislation and the need for affordable energy. Nebraska State Senator David Landis offered an historical portrayal of electric cooperative pioneer and champion George Norris, while keynote speaker, four-time Olympic medalist in USA Men’s wheelchair basketball, Mike Schlappi, shared his inspirational message and encouraged the students to “stand out” no matter what they choose to do with their life.

The trip highlight was a luncheon on Capitol Hill where delegates met with Indiana Congressmen Joe Donnelly (IN-2) and Brad Ellsworth (IN-8), as well as Neil Brown, special advisor to Senator Richard Lugar and professional staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Following lunch, Congressman Mike Pence (IN-6) joined the delegates on the steps of the U.S. Capitol for a group photo and an impromptu question and answer session about current events.