News

Six area high school juniors will participate in the 2025 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., in June, according to President/CEO Brad Castor of Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative.

Castor announced that Lauren Cruz of Acorn High School; Eli Swall of Mena High School; Kalee Mounts, Lilly Hogg, Carlee Mounts of Dierks High School; and Savanna White of Umpire High School are winners of the application/interview contest to determine the local cooperative’s representatives on the Youth Tour.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the six youths,” Castor said. “The trip is all-expenses-paid and will involve 47 other students from across Arkansas.” Each of Arkansas’ 17 electric cooperatives will select representatives for the Youth Tour, and those winners will join approximately 2,000 youths from 44 states in Washington, D.C., for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Youth Tour.

Between June 14-20, the six will visit the White House; the U.S. Capitol; the Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson monuments; the Vietnam Veterans Memorial; Arlington National Cemetery and other sights in Washington, D.C. In addition, the group will spend a day in Philadelphia visiting Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and other historical attractions.

This visit will be a combination of education, history and fun in our nation’s capital. In addition, the six from Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative are eligible to compete to represent Arkansas on the NRECA Youth Leadership Council. Arkansas’ representative, selected in part by a panel of judges and their delegate peers, will attend NRECA’s national meeting and participate in a variety of other cooperative activities throughout the year.

Rich Mountain Electric’s directors and management are happy to have this opportunity to enhance the educational experiences of local youth.