South Kentucky RECC sponsored six students on the 2026 Washington Youth Tour: Jonah Collins of Pulaski County High School, Callie Davis of Somerset Christian School, Kendyl Dunagan of Somerset Christian School, Catherine Hardy of Somerset Christian School, Gabrielle McGinnis of Wayne County High School and Micah Pryor of Wayne County High School.
The weeklong experience, coordinated by Kentucky Electric Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, brings together rising young leaders from electric cooperative communities to experience American history, civic engagement and the cooperative commitment to community.
The South Kentucky RECC students joined Kentucky delegates for visits to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and George Washington’s Mount Vernon before continuing to Washington, D.C., where they toured the U.S. Capitol, museums and memorials.
For Hardy and Dunagan, Arlington National Cemetery was especially meaningful.
“Walking among the rows of white headstones gave me time to reflect on the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who served our country,” Hardy says. “It was a quiet but powerful experience that I will never forget.”
“It means a lot to me,” Dunagan adds, “because I have a family member who is buried there.”
Davis says the Holocaust Museum also made a lasting impression.
“Hearing what the survivors said and seeing their belongings brought me to tears,” Davis says. “It really opens your eyes about this event that you have heard so much about in history books.”
For Collins, McGinnis and Pryor, the students they met helped make the trip unforgettable.
“Meeting other delegates from across the state truly made the whole trip,” Collins says. “With these new friendships it was a blast and I truly hope to stay in contact with them for years to come.”
McGinnis says the connections she made with other delegates “will impact me the rest of my life,” while Pryor calls Youth Tour “an experience of a lifetime.”
On Capitol Hill, the students were engaged and appreciative of the opportunity to discuss important issues with congressional staff members and U.S. Senator Rand Paul. They spoke up for electric cooperatives, asking about FEMA reform and how to make sure Kentucky co-ops are adequately served by FEMA. They also asked about artificial intelligence and the nation’s future.
“It is a privilege to spend a week in Washington, D.C., with some of Kentucky’s brightest young leaders,” says Mallory Wafzig, the statewide association’s manager of cooperative outreach. “As they walk in the footsteps of our nation’s founders and experience our democracy firsthand, they are inspired to lead, serve and make a difference in their own communities.”
Wafzig thanked the chaperones who helped lead and support the students throughout the week, notably South Kentucky RECC’s Justin Mayfield.