Two local high school juniors will represent South Alabama Electric Cooperative at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s 2017 Youth Tour which will be held in Washington D.C.

Brooklyn Norris (Zion Chapel High School), daughter of Julie and Greg Jackson, along with Dakarai Siler (Goshen High School), son of Sharone Scott, will join over 50 other Alabama high school juniors and travel to Washington D.C. for a week in June, to visit historic monuments, meet their U.S. Senators and Representatives and interact with over 1,500 students from across the United States at a Youth Rally Day.

They will be learning about American history, government, leadership, and the cooperative form of business.

Both of these students, along with nine others from area high schools, participated in the Alabama Rural Electric Association Alabama Youth Tour in March.

Alabama Tour participants included:

• Brooklyn Norris, Zion Chapel High School

• Dakarai Siler, Goshen High School

• Anna May, Pike Liberal Arts School

• Jace Baines, Luverne High School

• Caroline Kirk, Pike Liberal Arts School

• Eden Hipps, Pike Liberal Arts School

• Joshua Hermeling, Luverne High School

• Matthew Morrow, Pike County High School

• An’Twaneciia Baxter, Pike County High School

• Alexander Galloway, Goshen High School

• Kaylan Martin, Highland Home High School.

“I’m looking forward to the trip,” Norris said. “This is a great opportunity to represent my town and cooperative. The state tour was amazing too. I loved meeting all the new people. I learned that you should always put yourself out there and greet everyone with the same respect as you’d want. We’re all different and you might learn something from them. It was great getting to know a variety of people and learn about the things they do in their lives.”

“In Montgomery, I learned that stepping out of your comfort zone can really help you in the long run,” Dakarai Siler said. “I’m going to take this back the Goshen and go make a difference in a way that will benefit the community.”

Youth Tour winners competed in an application/essay competition and an interview competition before being chosen the represent South Alabama Electric Cooperative on the tour. Students were asked to discuss how the cooperative form of business was different than other types.

Want to learn more about the Youth Tour program?

Information will be available at local high schools and on the cooperative’s website, www.southaec.com, in January 2018.