Local Youth Travel to Washington, DC
Tipmont REMC was a proud sponsor of the 2011 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. Area students participating in this year’s trip included Jordan Hainje and Grant King from Central Catholic High School, Carolyn Trueblood Fountain Central, Justin Ratcliff and Nick Shear from Harrison, Kayla Smith from McCutcheon, and Kayla Carpenter, Erin Harper, Dominick Rivers and Megan Switzer from North Montgomery. This trip marks the 52nd 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.
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| Local students attend the 2011 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. Front, left to right, Jordan Hainje, Erin Harper, Kayla Carpenter, Carolyn Trueblood, Megan Switzer. Back, left to right, Nick Shear, Kayla Smith, Justin Ratcliff, Grant King, Dominick Rivers. |
This year’s trip began on June 9 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 16.
According to Sasha Clements, Tipmont’s Communications Coordinator, the 2011 Indiana delegation was comprised of 75 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. 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 Mount Vernon.
During the “Youth Tour Rally,” students heard about the history of electric cooperatives and our continued commitment to community. Former 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 Todd Young (IN-9), as well as Neil Brown, special advisor to Senator Richard Lugar. 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.
Information about the 2012 Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. will be available from Tipmont REMC in January.
Tipmont REMC is a member-owned electric cooperative serving residents and businesses in west central Indiana since 1939. Tipmont provides electric service to more than 20,000 members primarily in Tippecanoe, Fountain, Montgomery, and Clinton counties. Tipmont is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative, a national alliance of local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives providing high standards of service and dedicated to serving customers with integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community.