(Monroe, Ga., March 15, 2023) — Walton EMC has selected promising student leaders Deeya Mepani, Keely Gray, Julianna Walker and Katia Buch as the cooperative’s representatives for the 2023 Washington Youth Tour. These students will join nearly 2,000 delegates from around the country for a weeklong, all-expense-paid leadership experience in June.

The leadership development opportunity is meant to inspire the next generation of leaders. This year’s tour, which takes place June 15-22, will give the local delegates a taste of democracy in action, expose them to the nation’s history through visits to national monuments and museums, and encourage them to be politically aware citizens.

“Engaging and educating young leaders is crucial to ensuring our community, state and nation will be in good hands,” said Jennifer Broun, who coordinates the activity for Walton EMC. “We see the tour as a way to kindle the spark of leadership in high schoolers by showing them they belong among those willing to step up in service to others.”

The students representing Walton EMC are from North Oconee High School. This is the first time all four delegates have been selected from one school, Broun noted.

Applicants for Youth Tour are high school sophomores and juniors living or attending school in Walton EMC’s 10-county service area. The student delegates were carefully selected through a rigorous application process that included testing their knowledge of electric cooperatives and in-person interviews.

Walton EMC’s representatives will meet with other Georgia teen-delegates in Atlanta to kick off the tour. While in Washington, tour delegates will convene with youth representing electric cooperatives across the nation and exchange views concerning local and national issues.

WYT Application Details