D.C.- Bound on Electric Co-op Expedition

Posted: April 1, 2024 at 12:58 pm

Anticipation mounted as Claire Thomas, Communications Coordinator of PRECO, entered the classroom of Tylar Alden, US History teacher at Hardee Senior High School.  The students were anxious to see who had been chosen for the once-in-a-lifetime trip to Washington, D.C.

Jennifer Gonzalez-Delacruz and Gracyn Thomas were the lucky recipients of the 2024 Youth Tour Trip.  Each year, Peace River Electric Cooperative selects two students to represent the cooperative on a weeklong, all-expenses paid trip to the nation’s capital during the summer.

The selection process consisted of the submittal of an application, an essay describing why the student would be a good representative for the co-op, a letter of recommendation from a teacher, and an on-site interview.  During the interview, both young ladies expressed their immense appreciation for their teacher, Mr. Alden.  They hope this trip will allow them the opportunity to see the history book pages come alive as they embark on a weeklong excursion filled with many firsts.

During their stay in D.C., the students will have the chance to visit sites including historical monuments, Arlington National Cemetery, the Holocaust Museum, and many more. Following a visit to the U.S. Capitol, they will have the opportunity to talk with Florida congressmen and other elected officials.

Each summer, Youth Tour brings roughly 1,800 students from electric cooperatives from across the country to visit the sites of Washington, D.C. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, has coordinated this event annually for 67 years.

“After the trip, students come back with a much better understanding and appreciation for U.S. history and the role that legislators and officials play in our government,” shares Claire Thomas, PRECO communications coordinator. “Over the years, some delegates have credited Youth Tour with influencing them to seek a career path as a congregational aide or politician.

To learn more about the Youth Tour, visit PRECO.coop and YouthTour.coop