Peace River Electric Co-op Sends Students To Washington, D.C.

WAUCHULA-- Two local high school juniors attended the annual Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., courtesy of Peace River Electric Cooperative (PRECO). 

Armijo, and Mazewska with Adam Putnam

Anna Armijo, Fort Meade Middle-Senior High School, and Paulina Mazewska, North Port High School, were selected from among 16 high schools within the 10 counties served by PRECO and joined approximately 1,500 other high school students from electric co-ops across hte country for the weeklong event.

Students were required to write a short essay and submit an application and high school faculty members chose one student to represent their respective school as a candidate in the final selection process.

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), headquartered in Arlington, VA, has coordinated the Youth Tour program for over 40 years, sending high school students to visit the nation’s capitol. Each June, the Youth Tour educates young people about the history and development of rural electrification and promotes a better understanding of the value of electric cooperatives and their importance in the economic development of rural areas.
 
One of the highlights of the tour occured when the 30 students from Florida electric cooperatives met with Florida Congressmen Allen Boyd, District 2, and US Representative Adam Putnam, District 12, on the steps of the Capitol Building.

During the week, the students visited many historical sites including the White House, National Cathedral, the Smithsonian museums, Holocaust Museum, and the many war memorials, to name just a few. "Youth Tour was a simply remarkable experience, said Paulina Mazewska. "From spectacular views of history and government in action to the incredible bonds formed within our tour groups, it has become a lasting memory and a grand inspiration to my future ambitions."

Anna Amijo stated, "This trip has made me evermore grateful for this country's government. The Youth Tour has brought me back to the original principles our forefathers used to build this free nation we all should be very proud of."

Since 1964, the nation’s electric co-ops have sponsored more than 40,000 high school juniors for visits to their U.S. congressional delegations, energy and grassroots government education sessions, and sightseeing in Washington, DC. PRECO proudly gives back to the communities it serves by supporting local students in the Youth Tour program.