Six students, children or grandchildren of S.C. electric cooperative employees or trustees, have been selected to attend 2022 summer youth programs sponsored by the co-ops.
Four students will attend the Washington Youth Tour and two will attend the Cooperative Youth Summit.
Washington Youth Tour
Mikayla Ferguson of Hardeeville, granddaughter of Palmetto Electric Cooperative employee Evette Phillips, Claire Hawkins of Newberry, daughter of Newberry Electric Cooperative trustee Melanie Hawkins, Jaelyn Shelley of Nichols, granddaughter of Horry Electric Cooperative board president Johnny Shelley, and Mary Grace Vallentine of Cope, daughter of Edisto Electric Cooperative trustee Jack Vallentine, will attend the Washington Youth Tour June 18-23. This tour sends rising high school seniors from across the country on a week of unforgetable visits to Washington, D.C.'s most popular landmarks. They meet lawmakers, tour sights and make lifelong friendships with people near and far. The four students will be part of a 58-students South Carolina delegation to our nation's capital.
Cooperative Youth Summit
Ben Hawkins of Newberry, son of Newberry Electric Cooperative trustee Melanie Hawkins and Lyle Fulmer of Newberry, son of Newberry Electric Cooperative trustee Leon Fulmer Jr., will attend the Cooperative Youth Summit July 11-14. This summit sends rising high school juniors to South Carolina's capital for a four-day trip where they tour the Statehouse, meet state lawmakers, learn how co-op's are preparing for the state's energy future and make plenty of friends. The two students will be part of a 52-student delegation to Columbia.
All six students were selected after an application and interview process.
2022 marks the return of in-person youth events for the state's co-ops. For the past two years, because of COVID-19 safety concerns, the co-ops have held a Virtual Youth Experience for students to connect virtually.
