Nearly 80 rising high school juniors and seniors from across South Carolina will connect over the internet this summer thanks to South Carolina’s electric cooperatives.
The students were originally selected earlier this year for a once-in-a-lifetime experience—a trip to Washington, D.C., in June and/or a trip to Columbia in July where they would connect with rising leaders to learn about electric cooperatives and state and federal government issues.
The COVID-19 outbreak forced the cancellation of both in-person events. However, the students will connect with new friends and learn this summer during the Virtual Youth Experience June 19-26.
During the experience, which will take place using the WebEx online meeting system, the students will learn about cooperatives and how they are handling the COVID-19 crisis, hear from public figures including Governor Henry McMaster, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, state Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman and more. The students will compete for a $5,000 college scholarship by working in teams to create a podcast that explains how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted their lives. A panel of journalists, including NBC News’ TODAY and MSNBC’s Craig Melvin, Kenneth Moton from ABC’s World News Now and Cindi Scoppe and Avery Wilks from The Post and Courier newspaper, will select the winning podcast.
“We hope to make this virtual event something the students will always remember,” said Mike Couick, president and CEO of the state association of electric cooperatives, which organizes the events. “We’re thankful technology can allow us to connect with these outstanding students and give them an opportunity to meet their peers and ask questions of some of our state’s most influential people.”
Seventy-nine students representing 19 South Carolina electric cooperatives will take part in the Virtual Youth Experience.