Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Valley Rural Electric Cooperative sponsored 15 high school students from eight school districts on the 2019 Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., June 16-21. The teens, who just completed their junior year, spent their time in the capital meeting legislators, learning about the cooperative business model and touring monuments and memorials.
They joined nearly 1,500 other juniors from electric cooperatives all over the country. Of that number, 118 are from the 13 co-ops in Pennsylvania and one in New Jersey which comprise the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association.
The all-expenses-paid trip is packed with activities, including meetings with rural electric leaders, visits to historic sites throughout Washington and tours of the Smithsonian museums, Holocaust Museum, National Zoo and Arlington Cemetery. The agenda also included a dinner cruise on the Potomac River.
Each year, participants learn about the principles that govern rural electric and other cooperatives. Recommended by guidance counselors at their respective schools, the students were selected for the trip on the basis of academic achievement, leadership in extracurricular activities and community service.
One Claysburg-Kimmel High School student, Mackenzie Clemens, participated in the trip. She is the daughter of Adam and Kimberly Clemens of Claysburg.
"My favorite part was meeting people from all across the country, meeting people from Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee and getting to talk to them and learning more about what they do and how amazing D.C. is to them because they're so far away," Mackenzie said. "It is a great opportunity to learn about D.C. and electric co-ops."
Mackenzie is involved in her high school's chapter of Future Business Leaders of America along with yearbook club and student council. She plans to go into business management.
Jocelyn Pandolph represented Hollidaysburg High School. She has lettered in tennis and is active in student council. Through the Ophelia Project, Jocelyn speaks to girls in fifth and sixth grade to empower them against bullying. Jocelyn has a career goal of working as an interpreter or translator. She is the daughter of Michael and Melissa Pandolph of Duncansville.
Joseph Kunsman, one of four Williamsburg High School students on Youth Tour, said meeting new people and swapping state-themed co-op pins were highlights of the trip.
"I made a lot of friends, traded some pins and I learned a lot of history," Joseph said. "It's really good for networking, meeting people from across the U.S. and expanding your horizon."
Joseph plays basketball and football. He is also in marching and concert band. He would like to become a pharmacist. He is the son of Edward and Vicki Kunsman of Williamsburg.
Also from Williamsburg High School are Chelsea Mathieu, Saxton Smith and Adam Uplinger. Chelsea is involved in student council and National Honor Society. She is on the track and field team and plans to pursue a degree in marketing or physical therapy. Chelsea is the daughter of Darin and Marcy Mathieu of Williamsburg.
Saxton plays basketball and is a member of Spanish club. He is a National Honor Society student and is active in FFA. Saxton would like to have a career in the environmental sciences. He is the son of Jamie Smith and the late John Smith of Williamsburg.
Adam is also active with FFA, serving as his chapter's treasurer and chaplain. He plays on the basketball team and is on the track and field team. He would like to study business. Adam is the son of Aaron and Julie Uplinger of Williamsburg.
Altoona High School had one student on the trip, Corey Lion.
Four Huntingdon Area High School students participated in the 2019 Youth Tour. They were Kelly Ardrey, Colby Grubb, Isabel Kruse and Caroline Sliver.
Two Southern Fulton County High School students, Elizabeth Flaherty and Brooke Jordan, participated in Youth Tour.
Nicholas Collare is from Tussey Mountain High School.
Naomi Shemory represented Juniata High School.
Valley Rural Electric Cooperative is a member-owned utility that serves more than 21,000 consumers in Bedford, Blair, Centre, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata and Mifflin counties.
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