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Peace River Electric Names 2012 Youth Tour Students
February 14, 2012
In June, two local 11th grade students will travel to Washington DC to participate in the annual week-long, all-expense-paid “Youth Tour” event. Every year since 2007, Peace River Electric Cooperative (PRECO), Wauchula, FL, has sponsored students in the national Youth Tour program, making it available to students at 16 selected schools in its 10-county service territory.
Ian Harkins and Anna Shah, Manatee County residents, along with approximately 30 other students from Florida electric cooperatives will attend Youth Tour, joining with about 1,500 students from co-ops around the nation. Shah was recommended by Southeast High School in Bradenton, while Harkins, as a home schooled student, submitted an application as the son of parents who receive power from PRECO.
A total of five students submitted an application, including submission of an essay describing the important qualities the applicant believes legislators should possess. High school faculty chose one student to represent their respective school as a semi-finalist, creating a pool from which the winners were selected. Ruralite Services, of Forest Grove, OR, publisher of PRECO’s Florida Currents member magazine judged student essays.
The 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. The purpose of Youth Tour is to educate young people about the history and development of rural electrification and promote a better understanding of the value of rural electric cooperatives and their importance in the economic development of rural areas.
Harkins and Shah will also learn how our system of government functions as they meet with legislators on Capitol Hill and visit many area points of interest, such as the White House, National Cathedral, Washington Memorial, Holocaust Museum, numerous war memorials and much more.
PRECO gives back to the communities it serves by supporting Youth Tour. Call the consumer hotline at 1-800-282-3824 or visit the website at PRECO.coop for more information. Also visit YouthTour.coop. Peace River Electric Cooperative serves Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Manatee, Osceola, Polk and Sarasota counties.