The youth tour competition is perhaps Southern Pine's best-known and most highly anticipated youth program. Each year Southern Pine sponsors local high school students to the Washington, D. C. and the Montgomery Youth Tour. Area high school faculties select one of their top male and one of their top female 11th grade students to compete to receive an all-expenses paid trip to our nation's capital. Four students are selected each year as Washington Youth Tour representatives, while another 12 students are selected as Montgomery Youth Tour representatives and receive a three-day, all-expenses paid trip to the state capital of Montgomery, Alabama.
Students are judged on their knowledge of the history of rural electrification, as well as facts pertaining specifically to Southern Pine Electric Cooperative, electricity and current events. A panel consisting of professional staff members from other cooperatives and/or instructors from local colleges serve as judges for the competition. Criteria considered in the selection of the four winners includes: grade point averages, general appearance, extracurricular activities, general knowledge of the above-mentioned subjects, and overall demeanor.
Congratulations to all 24 students selected by their respective high schools to compete for the honor of 2011 Washington, D.C./Montgomery Youth Tour representatives. Southern Pine Electric Cooperative is pleased to annouce the 2011 Washington DC Youth Tour winners are: Zachary Watson and Nicole Simpson of Flomaton High School; Ryan Bowen of Monroe Academy; and Casey Blankenship of Excel HS. Alternates for Washington are Taylor Sims of Monroe Co. H. S. and Katelyn Chastang of Escambia Academy. Should one of the Washington winners be unable to attend, the alternate would go in their stead.
Montgomery Youth Tour winners are: Taylor Sims of Monroe So. HS; Katelyn Chastang and Branden Goddard of Escambia Academy; Lindsay Baker of W. S. Neal; Leah Brundidge and Thomas Gleaton of T. R. Miller; Tom Andrews fo Sparta Academy; Michael Tempero and Mariah Jones of J. F. Shields; Mary Helen Stallworth of Monroe Academy; Andre Brown of Escambia Co. H. S.; and Aleyseia Oliver of Hillcrest H. S. Alternates for Montgomery are Jaleel Elliott of W. S. Neal and Emily Middleton of J. U. Blacksher. Should one of the Montgomery winners be unable to attend, the alternate will go in their place.
To left: Mashika Tempero, Tyler Rigdon, Hayley Carnes and Drew Johnson, SPEC's past Washington D. C. Youth Tour representatives, stand in front of the White House gates.
The four students selected as Washington winners fly to Washington, D. C. in June of each year where they join approximately 1,600 students from cooperatives across the nation as they tour our national capital. During their week-long stay, they tour local sites of interest, participate in leadership activities, meet their legislators, and learn of the importance of the cooperative model in today's business and political arenas. They also learn about the significant role of government in the life of rural electric co-ops.
To right: Southern Pine's Mongtomery Youth Tour representatives take a moment for a photo while on the Youth Tour.
The 12 students selected as Alabama Youth Tour winners join approximately 120 students from electric co-ops across the state of Alabama as they visit our state's capital in March of each year. They tour local sites of interest, meet their legislators, participate in leadership conferences and learn about the importance of cooperatives in today's society.