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A junior from Altha School, Jackson Goins and Chipley High School junior, Karleigh Walters were named West Florida Electric’s Youth Tour competition winners on February 25. Megan Blaylock from Marianna High School was named the alternate.

These students will represent WFEC on the National Rural Electric Youth Tour June 15-20, traveling to Washington, D.C. with over 30 other Florida students to join over 1,600 high school juniors representing co-ops from across the country. 

Thirteen area students participated in the Youth Tour program this year. They were: Jackson Goins, Altha School; Leah Lewis, Bethlehem School; Isabelle Holloway, Blountstown High School; Karleigh Walters, Chipley High School; Mary Haser, Cottondale High School; Joshua Wesley, Graceville High School; Katherine Albury, Holmes County High School; Reilly Blighton, Malone School; Megan Blaylock, Marianna High School; Lydia Dixon, Poplar Springs School; Colby Bryan, Ponce De Leon High School; Maegan Lucas, Sneads High School and Mikayla Cotton, Vernon High School.

The cooperative’s Board of Trustees has created a scholarship program linked to Youth Tour participation. Each year, a scholarship of $4,000 to Chipola College is awarded to the highest scoring participant from each county. Participants are ranked on a scale of 100 points using a panel interview process and the following categories: Communication Skills, Knowledge of Subject, Personality, Community Service and Poise/Appearance. Those scholarship recipients were: Jackson Goins, Calhoun County; Katherine Albury, Holmes County; Megan Blaylock, Jackson County and Karleigh Walters, Washington County.

The Washington, D.C. Youth Tour Program has been in existence since 1957 when co-ops sent students to Washington, D.C. to work during the summer. By 1964, the program caught on, and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) began to coordinate the efforts of the co-ops. Since then, thousands of young people have experienced this opportunity. WFEC has participated in the Youth Tour since 1979, sending two students to Washington, D.C. each year since. For more information about the Youth Tour and the scholarship program, please visit www.westflorida.coop or contact Candace Croft at ccroft@westflorida.coop. 

Four local students were the recipients of a $4,000 scholarship to Chipola College. They are pictured here with the WFEC Board of Trustees & WFEC's EVP & CEO, Ty Peel, who awarded them with the scholarships. (Front, left-right): John Adams, Secretary/Treasurer; Katherine Albury, Holmes County scholarship winner; Megan Blaylock, Jackson County scholarship winner; Karleigh Walters, Washington County scholarship winner; Jackson Goins, Calhoun County scholarship winner; Ty Peel, EVP & CEO & A.C. Miles, District 5 Trustee. (Back, left-right): Randy Bush, Vice President; Joe Rone, President; George Owens; District 6 Trustee; Tim Alford, District 2 Trustee & David Tatum, District 1 Trustee.