CHELCO seeks first Youth Tour winner

 Mike Fitzsimmons won Youth Tour in 1983 as a representative of Niceville High School. Mike went to Washington, D.C., with CHELCO’s other winner, Angela Etheredge (Kilpatrick), who represented Laurel Hill School. Angela still lives in the area and has been contacted.

  If Mike is still in the area, he needs to contact CHELCO at 892-5069, ext. 105, and speak with Kathy Morrow, CHELCO’s Youth Tour coordinator.

 Youth Tour is an annual contest for high school juniors that allows deserving students to compete for a free week-long trip to Washington, D.C. Electric cooperatives all over the country hold this contest that was inspired by Lyndon Johnson in 1957 when he was a senator. That year, electric cooperatives in Texas began sending groups of young people to Washington to work during the summer in Senator Johnson’s office and learn more about their government.

  In 1958, electric cooperatives in Iowa sponsored a group of 34 young people on a week-long study tour of the nation’s capital. This idea grew, and by 1959, Youth Tour had grown to 130 students. Now, about 1,500 Youth Tour representatives from 48 states visit Washington each June.

The program is designed for young people to increase their understanding of rural electric cooperatives, become familiar with the historical and political environment of the nation’s capital, visit elected officials and meet students from all over the country.

  CHELCO is a member-owned electric cooperative that serves the energy needs of approximately 45,000 homes and businesses in Okaloosa and Walton counties.