CEC recently sponsored nine outstanding high school juniors to attend the 2026 Montgomery Youth Tour on March 11-13. Students were selected for the Montgomery Youth Tour last fall through an application process held at their schools.
The CEC Youth Tour delegates joined approximately 130 students from across the state at the Montgomery Youth Tour which included tours of the Alabama State House, Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, the Legacy Museum, and the Federal Courthouse. The trip also included team-building activities with motivational speaker Craig Hillier and a visit with lawmakers at the Alabama State House.
CEC’s Montgomery Youth Tour participants competed on March 19, for four slots to attend the National Rural Electric Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., in June. The competition included a test on co-op history and facts, as well as an interview with a panel of judges. Anna Thai of Straughn, Annah-Grace Harris of Kinston, Emma McClung of Pleasant Home, and Richie Philpott of Straughn were selected as CEC’s 2026 Washington Youth Tour delegates. Helen Pool of Red Level was chosen as the first alternate.
“Youth Tour is an amazing program that has evolved into a true leadership development experience in recent years,” says Patty S. Seay, CEC’s youth tour coordinator. “Students who participate want to gain valuable leadership skills to make a lasting impact on their communities and the world around them. It’s remarkable to see their confidence grow in only three days. I’m so glad that CEC and our local schools continue to support this great program for the students in our service area,” she added.
The purpose of the Youth Tour is to inform young people about how cooperatives benefit their members, learn about government and history, enhance leadership skills, and meet other young people from across the state and nation while visiting historical sites and landmarks.
Pictured from left, front row: Richie Philpott (Straughn), Annah-Grace Harris (Kinston), Anna Thai (Straughn), Alyssa Lee (Red Level), and Marley Kilcrease (Brantley). Back row: Emma McClung (Pleasant Home), Charlie Steele (Pleasant Home), Helen Poole (Red Level) and Ava Carnley (Kinston). Congratulations to CEC’s 2026 Washington Youth Tour winners Annah-Grace Harris, Anna Thai, Emma McClung, and Richie Philpott. The first alternate is Helen Pool (Red Level).