Calling all rising seniors within the Edisto Electric service area: It’s time to begin preparing for the annual Washington Youth Tour. Every year, about 1,500 delegates from 39 states are sponsored by local electric cooperatives to attend a week long all expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Edisto Electric Cooperative will sponsor two high school juniors to attend the youth tour, explore the D.C. area, meet other participants, or delegates, from across the country, and learn more about and promote electric cooperatives.

Contestants must submit an application and short essay to the cooperative by March 9, 2007. Finalists will be announced after a review of the essays by a panel of judges.

Aside from touring and promoting cooperatives, the winners, whom we call delegates, attend dances and river cruises, dine at culturally unique restaurants, and make new friends with whom many past delegates report they still keep in touch.

This year’s Washington Youth Tour will take place from June 9-14, 2007. Participants may begin applying in December of every year. To get an application or more information about Youth Tour, contact your school’s guidance counselor, or Frank Furtick at Edisto Electric Cooperative, at 1-800-433-3292.