FIVE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS will represent Lynches River Electric Cooperative by participating in the 2021 Virtual Youth Experience. The Virtual Youth Experience was created in response to the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 Washington Youth Tour and Cooperative Youth Summit. Though this virtual experience does not replace the in-person trips, it provides a unique experience to high school sophomores and juniors that aims to develop important leadership skills.
The selection committee chose Torie Johnson of Lancaster High School, Abby Hendrix of Andrew Jackson High School, Jordan Taylor of Central High School, Rylee Jenkins of Buford High School, and Leah Gardner of Chesterfield High School to participate in the opportunity. They will be virtually joining students representing their own local electric cooperative from across the state during the multi-day event.
During the experience, students will have the opportunity to discuss today’s issues with state and federal leaders from the comfort and safety of their homes using computers and mobile devices. They will also team up with other students from around the state to produce a podcast about their experiences living through a pandemic and other issues of the day. The selected students all have the opportunity win two separate $5000 scholarships from the podcast competition and the R.D. Bennett Community Service Scholarship.
Winners were chosen on the basis of their school and community involvement, communication skills and knowledge gained about cooperatives in the application process. To be eligible for the Virtual Youth Experience, students must be current high school sophomores or juniors and live and/or attend school in the LREC service area.