Contact: Priscilla Knight, 703-392-1580, pknight@novec.com

MANASSAS, VA, MAY 9, 2007—The Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative announced today the names of five students selected to participate in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour Conference, June 10-14, 2007 in Washington, D.C, and in Richmond, VA, in February 2008.  The students will visit the capitals to see governments in action.

The 2007 Youth Tour students, who come from NOVEC’s service territory, are: Sandra Zuniga Guzman, C.D. Hylton High School, Woodbridge; Alexander Darr, Loudoun Valley High School, Purcellville; Shijit Dasgupta, Centreville High School, Centreville; Zachary Taylor, Brentsville District High School, Nokesville; and Kelly Johnson, Battlefield High School, Haymarket.  They will join more than 1,400 other high school students from electric cooperatives across the country for the all-expense-paid tour.

Lyndon Baines Johnson inspired the Youth Tour when he addressed the 1957 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association annual meeting in Chicago. The senator and future president declared, "If one thing goes out of this meeting, it will be sending youngsters to the national capital where they can actually see what the flag stands for and represents." 

In 1958, a rural electric cooperative in Iowa sponsored 34 young people on a week-long study tour of the nation's capital. The idea grew and in 1964 NRECA began coordinating Youth Tour week.  Soon after, NRECA added state capital visits to Youth Tour.  More than 40,000 students—including 200 from NOVEC—have participated in Youth Tour since its inception.

“NOVEC students will join other students selected by local cooperatives from across the country for a unique learning experience,” said Donna Snellings, NOVEC’s Youth Tour coordinator.  “These five young men and women will learn how they can make a difference in their communities and in the nation by voting and getting involved in government.”

To qualify for Youth Tour, students’ families must receive electric service from NOVEC and be either rising high school juniors or seniors.  They must have good grades and recommendations from their schools.  Home-schooled students are also eligible. For information about NOVEC’s 2008 Youth Tour program, please visit the Cooperative’s community Web page at www.novec.com or contact Donna Snellings at 703-392-1511 or 1-888-335-0500 ext. 1511.