Local Students Gain Once-in-a-Lifetime Leadership Experience in Washington, D.C. through Sumter EMC

(Americus, GA – 8/21/2026) – A group of outstanding students from across Georgia, including Leila Stembridge of Schley County, and Annalee Collins, Hailey Stuart, and Collin Dunn of Lee County, returned from the 2026 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour earlier this Summer. This transformative, week-long leadership experience and tour of Washington D.C. is sponsored by Georgia’s electric membership corporations, including Sumter EMC.

From June 12–19, these 4 students joined more than 1,700 high school students from across the country in Washington, D.C., where delegates strengthened their leadership skills, explored American history firsthand, and gained a deeper understanding of civic engagement and public service.

“At Sumter EMC, our commitment goes beyond delivering reliable electric service. It also includes investing in the people and communities we serve,” said Tonya Jones, Community Relations Manager. “Sending students on the Washington Youth Tour is one meaningful way we support education, encourage civic engagement, and help develop the next generation of leaders. The connections these students make and the experiences they share have the power to shape their future, as well as our communities, for years to come.”

The 2026 Georgia delegation included 115 student delegates, 14 chaperones, two tour directors and one photographer. The experience began with a banquet in Atlanta honoring the delegates and their families before the group traveled to Washington.

While in the nation’s capital, delegates visited sites including several monuments and memorials, the U.S. Capitol, Smithsonian museums, the Holocaust Museum, Mount Vernon, National Archives, the U.S. Supreme Court, and Arlington National Cemetery.

Beyond the sites, students engaged in thoughtful discussions on current events and civic responsibility by visiting with legislative staff from their congressional district. Delegates also participated in National Youth Day, hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, where keynote speaker Mike Schlappi, an Olympic gold medalist and author, shared his inspiring story of resilience and determination.

As they learned about U.S. government and history, students also got to know themselves better through leadership activities and team-building exercises. These events boosted their confidence, improved their communication, and helped them see their own leadership potential.

Leila Stembridge, when asked about how the trip impacted her said, “The Washington Youth Tour impacted me because it made me comfortable being in uncomfortable positions.” When asked what her favorite memory was, Annalee Collins said being selected to lay a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. “…It made me feel very connected with this country, and I felt the true weight of sacrifice for our country…” “It’s given me a lot of motivation to really reach for the things that I want to go after,” said Collin Dunn. When it comes to applying, Hailey Stuart says, “I think everyone should apply for the Washington Youth Tour because it’s such a bonding experience with others seeing other people’s perspectives.”

Since its inception, the Washington Youth Tour has inspired nearly 100,000 students nationwide. Many alumni have gone on to lead in the fields of science, business, and government, while continuing to make a difference in their communities.
 
About Sumter Electric Membership Corporation

Sumter Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) is a community-focused electric cooperative created to efficiently deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy to more than 21,000 homes, businesses, farms, and schools. Sumter EMC is led by and belongs to the communities it serves – Chattahoochee, Dougherty, Lee, Marion, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Terrell, and Webster counties. Sumter EMC invests in its communities through programs such as Operation Round-Up, Washington Youth Tour, the Youth Leadership Experience, the Walter Harrison Scholarship, and the Georgia Cooperative Council’s Youth Leadership Conference.

About Georgia EMC
Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state’s 41 electric cooperatives, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp. Collectively, Georgia’s customer-owned co-ops provide electricity and related services to 5 million people, nearly half of Georgia’s population, across 73 percent of the state’s land area. To learn more, visit www.georgiaemc.com and follow us on Facebook and X.