Electric Cooperative Youth Tour: A virtual leadership experience

Are you a leader in your high school, community, your place of worship? Do you enjoy spending time planning projects and giving your time to help others? Want to meet more teens just like you? Flint Energies is offering a unique leadership experience, and we are searching for junior or senior high school students to be our 2021 delegates.

For more than 50 years, electric cooperatives across the state have recognized outstanding high schoolers by providing a valuable leadership experience for exceptional teens. Usually that means selecting students for the Washington Youth Tour, which involves a trip to our nation’s Capital. In 2021, due to uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, the decision was made to offer a virtual Youth Tour, June 22-24. A dynamic three-day interactive experience, the virtual Youth Tour will focus each morning on different aspects of leadership and include personality profiles, small group breakouts, photo contests, trivia challenges and more.

What delegates can expect:

Day 1: Leadership and Me- Delegates will learn how to be a better interviewer and storyteller from YT alumni involved in broadcasting and get a better grasp on personality types and techniques to build one’s leadership potential.

Day 2: Leadership and My Community- Professionals in education and community development will share their knowledge to raise awareness about organizations involved in efforts to better our state and hometowns and offer tips on how to decide what college is the best fit. Youth Tour alumni already in college will join in to answer questions.

Day 3: Leadership and My Nation- By inviting all of Georgia’s members of Congress to be part of a virtual town hall, delegates will be able to hear from legislators and ask questions live online.  Youth Tour alumni who have interned in D.C. or work in a members’ office will give advice on how to work on Capitol Hill. *An invitation to Georgia’s US Senators will be extended for them to participate.

Networking is a big part of the Youth Tour as delegates connect with like-minded high-achieving teens. Through the 2021 virtual leadership experience, students can get to know their peers across the state through mentor groups, regional and college-specific breakouts and off-line chats.

Delegates can collaborate in a small group challenge for a chance to win one of several college scholarships! And everyone who participates is also eligible to apply for an annual $10,000 national college scholarship only available to Youth Tour alumni!

If you know of a student leader who is ready for new experiences, geared up to network with young alumni of the program, and willing to learn more about themselves and their community, encourage them to apply for the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour! The 2021 deadline for applications has passed.

To qualify, you must:

• Be a high school junior or senior

• Live or attend a school in Flint Energies’ service area

• Have your parent’s permission to enter

• Commit to participating in the virtual Youth Tour should you win

How to apply:

• Complete the attached entry form, student’s commitment and parent’s authorization. The form must be submitted online or postmarked no later than March 15, 2021.

• Submit a short essay (500 words of less) using the provided topic on the application.

• Submit one (1) recommendation letter from a teacher, counselor, school administrator or a community mentor by email to bbrown@flintemc.com by March 15, 2021.

The 10 contestants scoring the highest on the essay will be invited to a short interview to be held at a later date. Judges will select four winners and one alternate.

For more information, contact Blair Brown at bbrown@flintemc.com or 478.218.5547