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Local youth selected by Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation are in Washington, D.C., this week attending the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour.

The Youth Tour is a joint effort between local electric co-ops, their statewide co-op associations, and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) in Arlington, Va. It gives rising high school seniors an all expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. as well as opportunities to gain leadership experience and win college scholarships worth $6,500.

Blue Ridge Electric selected four candidates from across its service area. Winners were selected based on their application and a three to five minute speech on what grassroots advocacy means to them.

Representing Caldwell County is Cory Dillard from Caldwell County Career Center Middle College. Dillard is the son of Jason Hamby and Kathy Hamby, and Darrin Dillard and Christy Richards.

Attending from Watauga County is Nicole Fox from Watauga High School. Fox is the daughter of Ben Fox and Annette Fox and Ben and Shirley Fox.

From Ashe County, Zachary May from Ashe County High School was selected as a winner. May is the son of Phillip May and Patsy May.

Representing Alleghany County is Jordon Edwards from Alleghany High School. Edwards is the daughter of Jerry Edwards and Michelle Edwards.

The trip takes place the week of June 15-21, during which time the students will seek to develop leadership skills and hone their persuasive speaking skills.

The Tour has allowed more than 40,000 students since the 1950s to learn about electric cooperatives, American history and the United States government. The tour seeks to make students more aware of the role of cooperatives and participate in leadership and speaking opportunities. In addition to other planned activities, students will have opportunities to tour the national capital, meet government officials and learn about how the federal government functions.

Blue Ridge Electric is an electric cooperative serving some 74,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Avery, Alexander and Wilkes counties.

To learn more about the safety program, visit Blue Ridge Electric’s web site at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com under “In the Community” or contact your local Blue Ridge Electric office.