Education | Lynches River Electric Cooperative

The application is now open for the 2022 Washington Youth Tour and Cooperative Youth Summit experience. Sophomores and juniors should apply online below before February 28, 2022, to be considered for the Virtual Youth Experience.

Each year, Lynches River Electric Cooperative sends selected high school juniors to Columbia, S.C., and to Washington D.C. to experience democracy firsthand.

The Cooperative Youth Summit, scheduled for July of each year, allows students to experience South Carolina’s capital like never before. Students will take a private tour of the Statehouse, meet lawmakers and see how electric cooperatives are preparing for our state’s energy future.

The Washington Youth Tour, scheduled in June each year, is designed to get students involved in the political process. Students selected for the trip will meet members of their legislative delegation, tour sites of historical significance, and attend cultural events. To see what an exciting experience the Washington Youth Tour can visit www.youthtour.coop.

Winners are chosen on the basis of their school and community involvement, communication skills and knowledge gained about cooperatives in the application process. To be eligible, students must be current high school sophomores or juniors and live and/or attend school in the Lynches River Electric Cooperative’s service area.

Students will be entered to be chosen for the Washington Youth Tour and the Cooperative Youth Summit by completing the following application. Just one application is needed for both events. Selected applicants are required to participate in a short interview. Each applicant will be contacted following the submission of a completed application to schedule an interview appointment.

All participants will be required to follow CDC and federal and local government regulations related to COVID-19. Sponsors reserve the right to require participants to be fully vaccinated before participating if key tour destinations, hotels, airlines, travel companies, or other critical entities require full vaccination for entry or use. Additionally, all participants will be required to submit proof of a negative viral COVID-19 test taken 48 hours or less before departure.

R.D. Bennett Scholarship

Students selected to go on the Washington Youth Tour or Cooperative Youth Summit are qualified to compete for the Robert D. Bennett Scholarship through the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina (ECSC). A one-time check in the amount of $5,000 will be issued to the student and the college, university, trade or technical school of the winning student’s choice, by the state association of electric cooperatives.

The scholarship winner is chosen based on the successful completion of a community service project. The winner will be announced in August.