This year, eleven Youth Tour applicants were interviewed over Zoom due to the Youth Day event in Springfield being cancelled. Three winners and one alternate were selected to participate in the Youth to Washington Tour, June 17-24, 2022.
The 2022 judges were Ashley Graham and Brooke Gross from the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives. Winners were chosen based on applications and interviews.
The winners of Adams Electric Cooperative’s 61st Annual “Youth to Washington” contest were Olivia East from Central High School, daughter of Tom and Mona East, Aria Seneczko from Central High School, daughter of Michael and Shannon Seneczko, and Madison White from Rushville-Industry High School, daughter of Heath and Lindsay White. Lauren Brinkman from Payson-Seymour High School, daughter of Leroy and Rhonda Brinkman, was named Alternate.
The alternate is eligible to go to Washington, D.C. if a winner is unable to attend. The alternate will receive $50.
Winners will join approximately 70 other high school students representing Illinois electric cooperatives on June 17, 2022 and travel to Washington, D.C. They will be accompanied by several chaperones and return to Springfield on June 24.
During the all expense-paid week in Washington, D.C., winners will join approximately 1,500 other students from 42 states for “Rural Electric Youth Week,” sponsored by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and electric cooperatives across the United States.
For more information, contact Laura Bergman at (217) 509-7761.