Once a year, high school students are selected by the state’s EMCs to represent Georgia as delegates on the all-expenses-paid Washington Youth Tour. This leadership experience includes meetings with state and national leaders, leadership training, and visits to many major sites. Southern Rivers Energy (SRE) sends two local high schoolers to join other students from across the state and country in this weeklong educational journey.
They meet their U.S. representatives and senators and explore museums, memorials, and monuments. Participants meet student leaders from nearly every state and hear dynamic speakers.
“Best of all, students make lifelong friendships and become part of a group with more than 50,000 alumni, including a few U.S. senators and CEOs. The Washington Youth Tour continues to bring the best and brightest students from across our state together for a fast-paced week in Washington, D.C.,” says Kathryn Green, SRE marketing and communications supervisor and WYT photographer. “Our goal is for Georgia’s delegates to learn about history and leadership while on the trip and, most importantly, be excited about returning home afterward to share what makes cooperatives special within their communities.”
The 2025 Washington Youth Tour will take place from June 13 through June 20. This all-expenses-paid, seven-day event will once again feature visits to, and tours of, some of the United States’ most iconic and historic venues, such as the Washington Monument, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Arlington National Cemetery, the Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, a boat cruise on the Potomac River, the Washington National Cathedral, the Iwo Jima Sunset Parade, a photo op in front of the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, World War II Memorial and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.
Eligibility
The Washington Youth Tour is open to public, private, or homeschooled high schoolers in Bibb, Coweta, Crawford, Lamar, Meriwether, Monroe, Pike, Spalding, and Upson counties. Students must be 16 or older by June 1. Seniors from the previous school year are still eligible. Students do not have to live in a home served by SRE.
The application deadline is Feb. 3 and applications must be in the Southern Rivers Energy office by 4:30 p.m. Interviews with the highest scoring individuals will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13. The trip will be June 13-20.
Contest Rules
Visit southernriversenergy.com/Washington-Youth-Tour to find the 2025 Study Guide. After studying the provided materials, students will submit a video (under 4 minutes) covering information about the history of rural electrification, Southern Rivers Energy and the U.S. government. The submission topic is: What did you learn from the study materials, and why should you represent Southern Rivers Energy on the Youth Tour?
Submissions will be judged based on knowledge of the material, 35 points; composition and grammar, 15 points; originality and creativity, 40 points; and adherence to all the instructions, which accounts for 10 points.
Be sure to include the WYT application form as well. Students may submit their application and video to Southern Rivers Energy, Attn: Youth Tour – Kathryn Green, P.O. Box 40, Barnesville, GA 30204. Entries may also be emailed to kathryn@srivers.com.
After You Apply
Applications and video submissions are due by Feb. 3 at 4:30 p.m. at our headquarters in Barnesville. The highest-scoring students will be invited to participate in the interview process starting at 11:00 a.m. on Feb. 13. Students must score at least an 80 to qualify. Interviews are judged on personality, communication ability, appearance, poise, leadership qualities, and goals. Please dress appropriately—as if you were going to a job interview. Students are free to go after their scheduled interview. Two students will be selected to win the trip to Washington, D.C., June 13-20.