Outstanding students from across Georgia, including McKenzie Blanchard and Leighum White of Midway and Aku Komlan of Hinesville, recently returned from the Washington Youth Tour, a life-changing, week-long leadership experience sponsored by Georgia’s electric cooperatives, including Coastal Electric Cooperative.
From June 13-20, Blanchard, Komlan and White joined more than 1,800 high school students from across the country in Washington, D.C., where they explored the nation’s capital, developed leadership skills and discovered the importance of civic involvement and community service.
“This experience provides a powerful, real-world lesson in history, leadership and community impact that can’t be taught in a classroom,” said Bethany Akridge, Coastal Electric Cooperative’s Washington Youth Tour coordinator. “By visiting the places where history was made, students gain a deeper appreciation of their role in shaping the future.”
The 2025 Georgia delegation included 116 student delegates, 14 chaperones and three tour directors. The journey kicked off with a banquet in Atlanta, celebrating the delegates and their families before the group traveled to D.C.
While in the nation’s capital, students visited iconic sites including Mount Vernon, Arlington National Cemetery, the U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian Museums. They also toured revered memorials honoring Jefferson, Lincoln, FDR, MLK, and veterans of World War II, Vietnam and Korea. Georgia’s delegates also participated in a dinner cruise on the Cherry Blossom Riverboat where they took in historic sites from the Potomac.by attending an informational congressional luncheon where students had the opportunity to visit with congressional staffers and Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. Delegates also participated in National Youth Day, hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, where keynote speaker Mike Schlappi, an Olympic gold medalist and author, shared his inspiring story of resilience and determination.
The Washington Youth Tour has impacted nearly 50,000 students nationwide since its inception. Alumni have gone on to lead in science, business and government — including the U.S. Senate — and many continue to serve their communities at local and state levels.
“The connections these students make and the experiences they share have the power to shape their future, and our communities, for years to come,” Akridge said.
Beyond the monuments, students engaged in thoughtful discussions on current events and civic responsibility