Update: The 2020 Youth Tour Was Cancelled Due to COVID-19
Gov. Henry McMaster
It’s a wrap! We’ve wrapped up the live portion of this year’s first-ever Virtual Youth Experience. Nearly 70 students from across SC, sophomores and juniors, participated in our historical tour. Due to COVID-19, the annual Washington Youth Tour and Cooperative Youth Summit were canceled. Thankfully, our amazing staff at The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina were able to keep the tour alive by going virtual.
We had some dynamic speakers to talk with and answer questions from our students during the experience. Here’s our speaker lineup:
- Gov. Henry McMaster
- Sen. Lindsey Graham
- Sen. Tim Scott
- Rep. Jim Clyburn
- S.C. Education Supt. Molly Spearman
- S.C. DHEC Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell
- Brookland Baptist Church senior pastor, Rev. Dr. Charles Jackson
- Surprise guest: Jim “Soni” Sonfeld, drummer for Hootie & the Blowfish
In the weeks ahead, the students will be working in groups to produce podcasts that answer the question: How have the events of 2020 impacted Generation Z? One group will win the top prize, $5,000 scholarships for each team member. The winning group will be revealed on July 31, 2020.
Video Screencasts
- Friday, June 26, 2020
- Thursday, June 25
- Wednesday, June 24
- Tuesday, June 23
- Monday, June 22
- Friday, June 19
An all-expenses-paid trip to our nation’s capital
Once a year, Little River Electric makes it possible for two high school juniors to join dozens of other South Carolina students as part of the Washington Youth Tour — a six-day, all-expense paid educational experience in Washington, DC.
Well over a thousand high school students, all sponsored by electric cooperatives from throughout the United States, converge on our nation’s capital to take part in this up-close look at history — both made and in-the-making.
The itinerary for the tour during a given year varies depending on the events and exhibits available.
Typical activities include visits to the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, tours of the Capitol, the White House and Smithsonian, rides down the Potomac on chartered boats, and prime seating for shows at Ford’s Theater or other performing arts venues.
South Carolina students also meet with their representatives and senators.
The tour, scheduled for the third week in June of each year, is designed to get students involved in the political process by giving them firsthand knowledge of our government in operation.
To compete for the scholarship, each Washington Youth Tour winner must submit an essay. Competition is based on essays and participation during the trip. Trip chaperones will judge the essays. S.A.T. scores, grade point average, class standing, and other honors will not be considered.
