The Rural Electric Youth Tour for high-school juniors - June 11 - June 18, 2010

2010 Rural Electric Youth Tour winners announced

Clay Long	Sallie Thompson

High-school juniors Clay Long and Sallie Pete Thompson, both of Wake Forest, have been selected by Wake Electric to attend the 2010 Rural Electric Youth Tour in Washington D.C. this June. Long, 17, is a student at Wake Forest-Rolesville High. Thompson, 17, attends Raleigh Charter High School. The two will join nearly 1,500 students from across the United States for a one-week all expenses paid trip to the nation's capital. Both students will also receive a $1,000 scholarship in their high school senior year upon enrollment in a college or university.

Over the course of the week, Long and Thompson, traveling with delegations from North Carolina, will visit historic sites and spend time with congressional leaders. Students will create podcasts and digital photo projects as they learn about electric cooperatives and
discuss issues in energy and climate change legislation that face their communities and the nation.

"Energy is a hot topic right now," said Angela Perez, Public Relations and Communications Specialist for Wake Electric. "Students are hearing about renewable and sustainable energy in the news every day. Clay and Sallie are not only high-achieving students, but they also both demonstrated an in-depth and thorough understanding of issues surrounding renewable energy that are impacting the electric utility industry."

For more information on Wake Electric's Youth Tour, click here. To learn more about the youth tour, visit www.youthtour.coop. The youth tour is funded through voluntary member and employee donations to Operation Round-Up.

Every year, Wake Electric seeks applicants for a one-week all expenses paid trip to Washington D.C. for the 2010 Rural Electric Youth Tour.  Winners also receive a $1,000 scholarship. The trip will be from June 11 – June 18.  Students who attend the Youth Tour will join 1,500 high school students from across the U.S. to learn about electric cooperatives, American history and the U.S. government. Students also visit the historic sights and federal facilities of the nation’s capital and spend time with their congressional delegations. They also create podcasts and digital photo projects while learning about issues in renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate change legislation that face their communities and the nation.   The $1,000 scholarship will be awarded the following year upon proof of enrollment in a college or university.

Applicants must currently be high school juniors in Durham, Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Nash, Vance and Wake counties. Applicants do not have to live in households served by Wake Electric in order to win.

For more information on the youth tour, visit www.youthtour.coop.