Two local students will have the opportunity to participate in a week long, all expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative. The students will also attend the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Government-In Action Youth Tour Conference in Baton Rouge.

Approximately 28 young people from Louisiana will join more than 1,300 students from 40 states June 13-20 for a week of sightseeing and a firsthand look at how government functions.

Before reaching Washington, the students will tour one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, the Natural Bridge, in Shenandoah Valley, Va. In Washington, the students will tour the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, Washington Monument, Vietnam and Korean War memorials, Arlington National Cemetery, the Holocaust Museum, the Smithsonian, Ford’s Theatre and the White House, as well as a boat cruise down the Potomac River. One day will be spent on Capitol Hill touring the U.S. Capitol and visiting the offices of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation.

WST General Manager Charles Hill said, “This is a great opportunity for two of our students to visit our nation’s capitol.

“WST Electric is dedicated to the education of our children through programs such as the youth tour, our annual scholarship program, Newspapers in Education and teacher mini-grants.”

Hill also pointed out that the winners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the Co-op Youth Leadership Conference in Baton Rouge April 14-16.

The contest is open to children of WST members, ages 16-18. Students interested in applying will need to complete an application form and prepare a typewritten essay of 800 words or less. The topic this year is, “Cooperatives are member-owned and controlled. As a future decision maker for your cooperative, describe the best ways we can connect and communicate with you.”

Essays, along with an application, should be submitted by March 6 to WST Electric, Attn: Robin Drago, P.O. Box 697, Franklinton, LA 70438. An independent board, selected by the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives, will judge the essays.

Students wishing to receive more information or to receive an application should contact their school principal, or visit WST’s website at www.wste.coop.