News & Events

Making leaders among us

Each summer, Mid-Carolina Electric and other electric cooperatives around the state and nation send standout students to Washington for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, called the Washington Youth Tour. In June, 57 student delegates from across our state spent six days in the capital area visiting historical and educational sites, including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the National Mall, and the National Pentagon 9/11 Memorial.

This year, Mid-Carolina Electric sponsored Katherine Pinkney of Dutch Fork High School in Irmo and Roddy Owen and Langston Barilla of Spring Hill High School in Chapin. Owen was chosen to represent South Carolina on the Youth Leadership Council, a national electric cooperative ambassador program. Addison Cook of Lexington High School was sponsored by CEEUS, our materials and equipment supplier.

This all-expenses paid trip to our nation’s capital for rising high school seniors is more than a school field trip. The Washington Youth Tour connects students to a new network of peers, exposes them to the roots of our democracy, and strengthens their respect for the sacrifices made to protect it. For many, the trip inspires new perspectives and births new ambitions for their future.

The students also spent a day at the U.S. Capitol, where they visited Congressional offices and met with staff members. Afterwards, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott spent time talking with the students and answering their questions on the Capitol steps.

The students participated in the Soda Pop Co-op, learning firsthand about the co-op business model. The student-run co-op sold snacks and beverages to their fellow youth tourists. Barilla served on the co-op board and helped hire the management team. As member-consumers, the students each received $7.50 in capital credits, their share of the co-op’s end-of-trip margins. The students donated a portion of that, more than $250 total, to Kid’s Closet, a co-op-affiliated outreach program that helps homeless youth throughout South Carolina.

In addition to the Washington Youth Tour, the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina also hosted the Mid-Carolina Youth Summit in Columbia, SC. This summit featured a week of activities aimed at developing leadership skills and community engagement. The students representing Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative at the summit were:

• Taryn Smoak, Lexington High School
• Emily Seung-joo You, River Bluff High School
• Aroosh Qazi, River Bluff High School

“As we head into another school year, we want our students to know that we are in their corner,” said Bob Paulling, Mid-Carolina Electric president and CEO. “We have no doubt that the outstanding students who experienced the Youth Tour and the Youth Summit are on their way to becoming the kind of leaders we need. We look forward to seeing what their futures hold and celebrating them and other students in our community throughout the new school year.”