Each year BEMC sends two rising juniors or seniors on an all-expense-paid trip to Washington DC, where they join more than 1,800 exceptional high school students from across the country on the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour.

Applications are available beginning December 1, and the deadline to apply is January 15. Sophomores and Juniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 are encouraged to apply.

Jamin Hernandez and Kayley Whiteside attended the 2024 youth tour and were in Washington DC from June 15th through the 21st. Here’s what they thought about the experience.

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“It was amazing, much grander than I expected. We went to the Smithsonian museums, and learned about the history of cooperatives, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. We toured the National Mall, and the memorials were so impressive and inspiring. I found the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial to be so serene, and the World War II and Vietnam Memorials also really made an impact on me. I never truly understood the sacrifice until I saw the long list of names of those who died in service.

We also got to spend some time with the staffers for Senators Ted Budd and Thom Tillis, and ask them questions. We learned how cooperatives work with members of Congress, which was very interesting. They also told us about the North Carolina Governor’s School and some internships that sounded like great opportunities. It was a packed week, I learned so much and met so many new people, I’ll never forget it.” — Jamin Hernandez

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“It was great, I’m so glad I went! I was skeptical at first because I didn’t know anybody who was going, but I met so many nice people. It was eye opening to spend time with students from all over the country, to realize that we’re all similar and more alike than we are different, that was something I’d never experienced before. And the advisors were very helpful and fun.

I really enjoyed the National Cathedral, and learning how it took more than 80 years to build. The more modern parts, including a stained glass window that contained a piece of the moon, were so beautiful. Arlington National Cemetery was very moving, and we got to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, see the Changing of the Guard, and tour one of the houses there. It was a wonderful experience, and my new friend and I learned that living in the city is probably not for us, although it’s a great place to visit!” — Kayley Whiteside