Three winners were recently selected to participate in the 2016 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C.

Wayne Whitaker, President & CEO of Southwest Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation REA announced Maria Dominguez and Josue Castellanos, both of DeQueen High School, and Abigail Taylor of Cossatot River High School, as winners of an essay-writing contest to determine who would represent your local cooperative on the Youth Tour.

The trip is all expense paid and will involve approximately 44 other youths from across Arkansas.  From June 8 through June 16, the tour will visit the White House, the U.S. Capitol, Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson monuments; the Vietnam Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, and other sights in Washington, D.C. “This is a tremendous opportunity for these three students,” Whitaker said.

In addition, the winners will be eligible to compete to represent Arkansas on the National Rural Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Youth Leadership Council.  Arkansas’ representative, selected by the tour directors, will attend NRECA’s national meeting and participate in a variety of other cooperative activities throughout the year.

Each of Arkansas’ 17 electric cooperatives will select representatives for the Youth Tour, primarily through speech and essay contests.  Those winners will join approximately 1,500 youths from thirty-eight states in Washington for the National Rural Electric Youth Tour.

More From Kicker 102.5