Washington Youth Tour

Sumter EMC is proud to announce the four outstanding high school students selected to represent the cooperative as 2026 Washington Youth Tour delegates. Chosen through a competitive application and interview process; these students exemplify academic excellence, leadership, and a strong commitment to their communities.

The 2026 delegates include Annalee Collins, a junior at Lee County High School and the daughter of Jessica and Trey Collins of Leesburg; Collin Dunn, a senior homeschooled student from Leesburg and the son of Aarin and Cliff Dunn; Leila Stembridge, a senior at Schley County High School and the daughter of Milton and Brooke Stembridge of Ellaville; and Hailey Stuart, a junior at Lee County High School and the daughter of Kacie and Brad Stuart of Leesburg.

Each student demonstrated strong academic performance, leadership involvement, and a desire to learn more about government and civic responsibility. As Washington Youth Tour delegates, they will travel to Washington, D.C., where they will join students from across Georgia and the nation to explore historic landmarks, meet with elected officials, and gain firsthand insight into how the federal government works.

Sumter EMC congratulates these four students and their families on this achievement and looks forward to seeing the impact they will make as ambassadors for their schools, communities, and electric cooperatives across the state.

The competition is open to all Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors who will be 16 Years Old by the first day of the 2027 trip, and live in or attend a school in Chattahoochee, Lee, Marion, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Terrell, or Webster County. Students not residing in or attending a school in the above counties are eligible if their parents are members of Sumter EMC and live within the cooperative's service area. The cooperative's service area is Marion, Schley, Sumter, Webster, Dougherty, Lee, Randolph, Terrell, Chattahoochee, Quitman, and Stewart counties.

Be a Sophomore, Junior, or Senior in good standing with your school.
The applicant must be 16 years of age by the first day of the 2027 trip.
Must have parent's consent.

To learn more about the Washington Youth Tour, contact Tonya Jones at 229-924-8041, ext. 2210 or tonya.jones@sumteremc.com.

Please read the following information carefully before completing the application. You may open the application and review the information needed, but please know it must be completed before closing or submitting. If the application is closed before completing, you will be able to start over, but will have lost all information. The application must include the following information:

Two Teacher Recommendation Forms
Personal Information
Parent/Guardian Information
School Information
Non-weighted GPA
Interest and Hobbies
Upload a clear head shot
Each of the following questions will need to be answered with a minimum of 200 and a maximum of 300 words:

Why do you think Sumter EMC should choose you as one of their 2027 Washington Youth Tour delegates?
When traveling on this trip, you will have to room with one other person. If your roommate is totally opposite of you...you are a mess and they are tidy...you are a chatter-box and they are the quiet-type...how will you handle the week?
You will be travelling with around 115 students and chaperones during the week, many you will meet for the first time when the trip begins. Answer the scenario which best fits you:
- If this trip is out of your comfort zone, how will you break your shell and embrace this experience to have lasting relationships?
- If this trip with 115 new friends is just up your ally, how will you take the time to embrace each moment and form lasting relationships?
Who has had the greatest positive influence in your life? Share with us why this person's impact is different from others?

Your application will be scored by WYT coordinators from across the state, and the highest-scoring students will be invited to participate in the interview process. Those finalists will be sent the Washington Youth Tour Study Guide on which students will take a quiz on the interview day (TBA). After the quiz, students will draw numbers for the order of their interview. The interview will be judged on personality, communication ability, appearance and poise, leadership qualities, and goals. Dress for the interview as if you were attending a job interview .

Based on an average score from the application, quiz, and interview, four students will be selected to experience an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C.

Click Below to See What Washington Youth Tour is All About!

View "An Unforgettable Week" on YouTube.

Click Here for Video

Click here to download

Eligibility

2027 Contest Schedule

2027 Contest Rules

Click Below to See What Washington Youth Tour is All About!

Connect With Us