Students attend rural electric youth tour
By Staff Reports
Published in News on July 19, 2010 1:46 PM
Marisa Linton of Mount Olive has been selected to represent North Carolina on the Youth Leadership Council of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
She is attending the council conference being held through Wednesday in Washington, D.C. The conference agenda includes leadership and team building exercises, meeting with Capitol Hill staff members who are "alumni" of NRECA's Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, and a competition to select the NRECA's National Youth Spokesperson.
While in Washington, council members will meet with Glenn English, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Sheldon Peterson, Governor of the National Rural Cooperative Finance Corporationand Bob Phillips, CEO of the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative.
"This is what it's all about," said Miss Linton who represents Tri-County EMC, located in Dudley. "We are preparing ourselves for the future with peers from across the country, thanks to Tri-County EMC and NRECA. We will expand our knowledge of the American political system, broaden our understanding of cooperatives and develop our leadership skills."
Miss Linton's electric co-op experience began in June when she attended the Electric Cooperative Rural Electric Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. with more 1,500 high school students sponsored by their local electric cooperatives. The North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives then selected Miss Linton to serve on the Youth Leadership Council for North Carolina and attend the leadership conference.
All 42 members of the council, including Miss Linton, will participate in the 2011 NRECA annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. They will provide assistance to the NRECA staff and co-op delegates; participate in the Parade of States at the opening general session and take part in a variety of educational activities.
Miss Linton, the daughter of A.J. and Suzanne Linton, has earned a place in the National Homeschool Honor Society with a 4.0 grade point average. She has received numerous academic and school awards, is very active in 4-H and is president-elect of the Wayne County 4-H County Council.
She enjoys participating in and teaching youth in 4-H, livestock and church programs. Her hobbies include showing livestock, fiber preparation and spinning, sewing, shooting sports and piano.
NRECA is the national service organization representing the nation's more than 900 private, consumer-owned electric cooperatives .