Gibson Electric Membership Corporation is proud to sponsor six local students on the annual Washington Youth Tour, an unforgettable expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., June 14-20.

Claire Evans, Crockett County; Brian Robertson, Gibson County; Catelyn Ripley, Lake County; Reese Ulen, Obion County; Sophia Harding, Kentucky; and Jaxon Vredingburgh, At-Large; will join peers from electric cooperatives across the country on a six-day trip organized by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and sponsored by Gibson Electric and the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association (TECA).

To be eligible for Washington Youth Tour, high school juniors submit a short story of 900 words or less explaining how co-ops are “Energizing Every Moment” by providing communities with energy, education, broadband, economic development and more.

Vredingburgh penned the winning story for Gibson Electric. His submission will be judged at the state level where the top three winners will receive scholarships of $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.

“Jaxon’s short story is required reading for anyone new to the cooperative model,” said Gibson Electric and Gibson Connect President and CEO Dan Rodamaker. “He does a great job explaining how electric co-ops energize our members and communities. We’re happy to have Jaxon, Claire, Brian, Catelyn, Reese and Sophia representing Gibson Electric on this year’s tour. They will come back home energized and eager to serve their communities.”

Every student who participates in the short story writing contest for Gibson Electric is entered into a drawing for five $500 scholarships. Names were drawn at the co-op’s annual meeting held in March, and winners are Cam Pankey, Crockett County; Chandler Milan, Gibson County; Paige Owens-Teague, Lake County; Julianna Northam, Obion County; and Emma Allen, At-Large.

For more information on Washington Youth Tour, visit https://www.tnelectric.org/youthtour/ or call Gibson Electric at 731-855-4660 ext. 1615.