SUPPLY, N.C. (October 25, 2019) – Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) is now accepting applications for the 2020 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. Two high school students, one from Brunswick County and one from the Columbus County area, will be chosen to go on an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. in June of 2020. The students will join peers from North Carolina and across the United States for a week-long adventure where they will meet their congressional representatives and senators, as well as tour historic sites and museums. They will also establish a mini-cooperative, gaining valuable insight into the cooperative business model and how it works. Student groups are organized at the state level, and they come together for Youth Day where they interact and hear speakers who provide perspective on the important roles electric cooperatives play in their communities. Nearly 50,000 students from rural areas and small towns across America have participated in this program.
“This is a unique opportunity for students to see government in action, meet with policy makers, experience our nation’s capital, and learn how cooperatives work,” said Josh Winslow, BEMC’s CEO and General Manager. “Delegates attending in 2019 reported a greater understanding of our democracy and an appreciation for the increasing relevance of cooperatives.”
Applications are open to all qualified high school juniors and seniors; details can be found at bemc.org. Students are required to submit an essay and a completed application by January 15, 2020. Winners will be notified by February 1.