OK. Maybe you aren’t really into politics. As a junior or senior in
high school, you’re thinking about college and where you’re going to
come up with more than $100,000 to pay for higher education. You’re also
trying to decide what you want to work at the rest of your life to make
that college experience pay off.
Oddly
enough, the very people who may have answers to those questions are
wearing the title of state legislator or seated in chambers of Congress in
Washington D.C.
Or maybe, just maybe you could bump into a future president!
In 2006, WIEC Youth to Washington winner, Dan Scheetz of Carthage met
then-Senator Barack Obama. Who would have thought?
Before
you know it, you will be voting in your first election and the weight of
the country’s decisions will partially belong to you.
Will you support a Congressman who wants to pass Cap & Trade?
Will you be in favor of farm subsidies? As you approach what was once
“draft-age,” do you think we should send more troops to Iraq and
Afghanistan or should the military be strengthening our borders?
Oh, and when you get the opportunity to confront your Congressman,
in addition to these questions will you ask: Why have college expenses sky
rocketed and will I be able to get a job when I get out?
Electric
and telephone cooperatives in more than 30 states believe that young
people deserve a first-class opportunity to educate themselves in the
government process. Each year, more than 1,000 high school students make
the trek to Washington to get that personal initiation, and they have a
lot of fun in the process.
It all begins in
Springfield where you spend the day touring local sites and meeting with
legislators that makes laws for your state. This year’s trip will be
April 21, 2011.
The final leg of the journey will be going to Washington D.C.
This year marks the 51st trip to the nation’s capital
and promises to be as exciting as ever. Students establish their own
cooperative while on the bus trip, learning the principles required to own
and sell pop and chips.
Hopefully, at the conclusion of the tour, you will understand the
only crystal ball in Washington is the one you help develop through your
participation in government and public service. The future of the country
depends on the youth of today getting involved.
Western Illinois
Electrical Coop. is participating in this program as a way to build strong
citizens for the future. Besides, we hope they have a great time and make
new friends from around the state of Illinois. Any son or daughter of a
WIEC member may enter by completing a Web Quiz and return it to the WIEC
office by February 15, 2011
Six
entrants will be chosen to visit Springfield IL and the top entry will be
awarded the free trip to our nation’s capital.
For entry information: visit our website at wiec.net,
contact Becky Dickinson at Western Illinois Electrical Coop. or
see your high school guidance counselor.
Application packets are available at the WIEC office
and your high school’s guidance counselor’s office. Applications are due back to
the WIEC office by February 15,
2011.
For more information contact the WIEC office.
