Randolph County students attend 'Youth to Washington' tour

Griffin Bradley, of Percy, and Emma Kerkhover, of Chester, represented Egyptian Electric Cooperative Association in Washington, D.C., during the annual "Youth to Washington" Tour June 9-16.

This event, sponsored by the electric and telephone cooperatives of Illinois since the late 1950s, is an introduction to the nation's democratic form of government and cooperatives for rural youth.

The students met with U.S. Congressman Mike Bost, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, and were among 69 rural Illinois youth leaders selected for the trip.

The Illinois students joined more than 1,730 young leaders from across the country, a record high for the "Youth to Washington" Tour.

In addition to the Capitol, they also visited Arlington National Cemetery, the Washington National Cathedral, several Smithsonian Museums, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the World War II Memorial, memorials to Presidents Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington and Roosevelt, the National Archives, the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, the Newseum, and several other historical sites.

Sophomores and juniors in high schools that are within the service area of Egyptian Electric Cooperative are eligible to participate in the annual program.

To learn more about the "Youth to Washington" Tour go to www.youthtour.coop or www.facebook.com/ILYouthtoWashington.