CLARKSVILLE, Tenn (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation has announced that Autumn Johnson of Montgomery Central High School is among the winners of the 2020 Washington Youth Tour Writing Contest.
Contest winners wrote short stories titled “Electric Cooperatives: The Power to Be” describing how electric co-ops give their members the “power to be” connected, engaged, productive, healthy, educated, etc.
Typically, contest winners are awarded a spot on the Washington Youth tour, a week-long, expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., where they join more than 130 high school juniors from across the state to learn about history, leadership and public policy. Unfortunately, like so many other events, this year’s trip, was cancelled due to concerns of COVID-19.
Youth Tour includes visits to the most historically significant and meaningful places in our nation. With large crowds common in these places, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association and CEMC are unable to fully protect students from exposure. CEMC, TECA and NRECA are all very disappointed that these deserving students will not be able to experience this once in a lifetime trip to our nation’s capital; however, the health, safety and well-being of our delegates are our primary concerns.
In lieu of this year’s trip, each of this year’s winners will receive a $1,000 college scholarship. Winners will also have the opportunity to compete for additional college scholarships in the future.
CEMC awarded a total of 12 Washington Youth Tour Writing Contest scholarships to students throughout the cooperative’s five-county service area this year.