Flint Energies has selected four high school juniors as delegates for the 2019 Washington Youth Tour (WYT). Alexis Gonzalez, Warner Robins High School; Natalie Russell, Taylor County High School; Chely Trejo, Crawford County High School; and Sadie Wicks, Taylor County High School were chosen for the all-expense paid leadership development experience sponsored by electric membership cooperatives in Georgia, including Flint Energies.
For more than 50 years, the WYT has helped promising student leaders become exceptional young adults. According to Blair Brown, WYT Coordinator for Flint Energies, the Youth Tour was established with this purpose in mind – to inspire the next generation of leaders. This year’s tour, which takes place June 13-20, offers opportunities for students to meet policy makers, tour historic monuments and participate in leadership experiences, all while making new friends from across the state and the nation.
Alexis Gonzalez, daughter of Allan and Kalesha Reeves of Warner Robins, is Student Council Vice President at Warner Robins High School. A graduate of the 2019 Robins Regional Youth Leadership program, Alexis is very involved in her school and community. Her extracurricular activities include Beta Club, Demonette Soccer Team, WRHS Demon Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Math Club, Student Advisory Board and Prom Committee. Upon graduation, she hopes to attend The University of Southern California (USC) and return to Georgia to work for the CDC as an epidemiologist.
Natalie Russell, daughter of Denise Russell of Mauk, is a member of the 2019 Taylor County Youth Leadership program. A dedicated and hardworking student, Natalie is a member of school and community groups such as 4-H, Literary Team, One Act Play, Beta Club and The National Society of High School Scholars. She loves to pursue life-changing opportunities that will help her develop as a leader. After graduation, she would like to attend college and major in history.
Chely Trejo, daughter of Maria Hernandez of Fort Valley, holds many leadership positions at Crawford County High School. A member of the 2019 Crawford County Youth Leadership program, Chely enjoys taking educational trips that help shape her into a better leader equipped for the real world. She is active in many school organizations including cheerleading, Technology Student Association (TSA) and Future Farmers of America (FFA). Chely is the president of her local FFA chapter and serves as the Georgia FFA Central Region Sentinel. Her future plans include attending college to pursue a degree in Agriculture Education or Nursing.
Sadie Wicks, daughter of Jason and Maria Wicks of Roberta, enjoys being involved in extracurricular activities at her school. A few include Key Club, Beta Club, Student Council, Varsity Tennis, Yearbook Staff, Future Farmers of America (FFA) and Literary Team; all of which she holds leadership positions. In her spare time, Sadie and her family spend many days and nights at the race track where she competes as a junior drag racer in the NHRA. After graduation, Sadie would like to attend Georgia Tech or Emory University to become a pediatric oncologist.
Qualifying students who complete the Washington Youth Tour application participate in a selection process including a quiz testing their knowledge of Flint Energies, electric cooperatives and the Youth Tour. The top ten scorers from the quiz move on to a personal interview where a panel of judges selects four delegates.
The 115 teen-delegates from all around Georgia will gather in Atlanta to kick off the tour, spending time getting to know each other before departing for Washington D.C. When the group arrives in D.C., participants tour historic locations such as Mount Vernon, explore museums and monuments and meet with their elected officials to discuss issues that are important back home. Georgia’s delegation will convene with more than 1,800 youth representing cooperatives across the nation and have the opportunity to mingle with peers from other states and exchange views concerning local and national issues.
Since 1965, the Washington Youth Tour has given 3,200 students in Georgia and more than 52,000 students nationwide the opportunity to take part in this leadership and team-building experience. For more information on the Washington Youth Tour, go to flintenergies.com/washington-youth-tour.