JCHS students participate in Washington Youth Tour

JCHS students who participated in the Washington Youth Tour had the opportunity to meet Congressman John Barrow. They are, clockwise, from top left, Jamie Herrmann, Beth McKenzie and Brookes Brinson.

Taking part in Georgia Electric Membership Corporation's (GEMC) 42nd annual Washington Youth Tour last month were Jenkins County High School students Brookes Brinson, Jamie Herrmann and Beth McKenzie.

Each year, a handful of promising Georgia high school students visit the nation's capital as part of the one-week tour designed to help teach students about politics and government in Washington. Students compete for the opportunity to be a youth tour delegate representing their local electric cooperative. For many of the 106 young men and women chosen to attend this summer, it was their first opportunity to visit Washington D. C.

Local students, along with other participants from Georgia's 12th Congressional District, were given the opportunity to meet with Congressman John Barrow. During a meeting with the group, Rep. Barrow spoke about a typical day in the life of a U.S. Congressman and then discussed the work he is doing in the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Agriculture Committee to promote the nation's energy independence.

(Photos contributed)

"The GEMC annual Washington Youth tour allows future leaders from back home in Georgia to visit Washington, and get a hands-on education about how our democracy works," said Rep. Barrow.

"This is a great group of students, mostly from the district's rural communities, who are concerned about their future and are eager to get involved and make a difference," he added.