Over the summer, most students simply went to the lake, the beach, or the countryside. Very few, however, had such an opportunity as Matthew Carlile and Amber Terry. The seniors at Center Hill were given the chance to travel to Washington, D.C., as a part of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Electric Cooperative Youth Tour.

Carlile and Terry are two of 70 students who participated in the program. They were selected based on essays they wrote about what a cooperative is and why they are so useful to society. They then was interviewed by a council of members from the program and later selected to take part in the trip, which was sponsored by Northcentral Electric Power Association.

“I want to create or join organizations to help people, and I thought the leadership program would assist me in skills that would be useful in helping others,” Terry said. “Leaders encourage themselves and make a difference instead of waiting for a catalyst.”

The members of the NRECA Electric Cooperative Youth Tour were able to experience exceptional leadership first hand when they visited the U.S. Capitol and met with Mississippi’s U.S. Representatives. The tour also visited national treasures such as the Jefferson Memorial and Ford’s Theatre.

“I really enjoyed the trip, and I was extremely grateful for the opportunity,” Terry said.