Ohio Youth Tour 2024

Union Rural Electric Cooperative (URE) delegates Allison Stacklin and Sahithi Sadineni were among 50 students from throughout Ohio who visited Washington, D.C., for a week in June as part of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives Youth Tour. Youth Tour is an annual youth leadership experience open to high school sophomores and juniors from families served by electric cooperatives.

“Visiting Washington, D.C., was an incredible experience filled with a new appreciation for America’s history, culture, and iconic landmarks,” said Stacklin. “My favorite monument on the trip was the Iwo Jima Memorial. While there, we were able to watch the Iwo Jima sunset parade as well as meet with and pin-trade with members from other states. We were able to meet with lawmaker Senator Sherrod Brown as well as representatives of the offces of other Ohio lawmakers. While meeting with these people, both myself and others were able to ask many questions, ranging from how they got to the U.S. Capitol to the many effects of the EPA’s new regulations.”

Youth Tour has been an electric cooperative tradition for more than 50 years. Nationally, more than 1,600 students make their way to D.C. for the opportunity to meet with legislators, tour historic sites, and learn about the cooperative business model.

“The 2024 Youth Tour trip was an incredible and memorable experience for me,” said Sadineni. “I had the pleasure of meeting people not only from Ohio but from across the nation.

“My favorite part of the trip was going to the Capitol building. We were given an informative tour and had the chance to meet some of the dedicated staff in Congress. It was an eye-opening experience to meet Senator Sherrod Brown. As I stood on the Speaker’s Balcony capturing breathtaking photos, I also felt grateful to have had the opportunity to go on this trip. Visiting significant memorials such as Flight 93, World War II, Iwo Jima, and the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial is indeed a powerful reminder of our history and the unity that defines our nation.”

Additional information about URE’s Youth Programs, including Youth Tour can be found at ure.com/community/ youth-programs/. Applications for the 2025 program will be available in the winter.

“I am thankful to everyone who made the Youth Tour trip possible. It was a truly memorable experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone ready to step out of their comfort zone, meet new people, and learn more about our nation’s capital.” – Sahithi Sandineni

“Youth Tour gave me an invaluable insight into our nation’s history, as well as the crucial role of co-ops. I thank URE immensely for this incredible experience.” – Allison Stacklin