Washington Youth Tour

2027 Washington Youth Tour

"A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience"

June 17-24, 2027

Once a year, local high school students are selected by Sumter EMC to represent our cooperative and state as delegates on the Washington Youth Tour. This top-notch leadership experience and tour of Washington, D.C. includes meetings with state and national leaders, leadership training, and visits to all the major sights. Participants join over 1,500 other students from around the nation—all expenses paid—for one incredible week in our nation's capital. It’s truly a trip of a lifetime. Will this be you next year?

As a Washington Youth Tour delegate, you will travel to Washington, D.C., where you 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 is excited to share this opportunity with four more deserving students. If you would like to apply, please read below for rules and eligibility.

The competition is open to all Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors who will be 16 Years Old by the first day of the 2027 trip (June 17, 2027) 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.

Requirements:

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, which is June 17, 2027.
Live in/attend school in Chattahoochee, Lee, Marion, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Terrell, or Webster County OR parents/guardians are members of Sumter EMC & live within the cooperative service area.
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.

Please know the application must be completed in one sitting. 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:

Personal Information
Parent/Guardian Information
School Information
Non-weighted GPA
Interest and Hobbies
Upload a clear head shot

We suggest you prepare your answers to the following questions before beginning the application, then you can copy and paste your answers into the application.

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 messy 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:
1. If this trip is out of your comfort zone, how will you break your shell and embrace this experience to have lasting relationships?
2. 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?

The following question must be answered in a minimum of 500 words and a maximum of 550 words:

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, which will take place on February 18, 2027. 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.

We are excited you are applying for WYT! Make sure you have all of the following completed by the given dates:

Complete your application by January 29, 2027
Have two teacher recommendations submitted by February 5, 2027
Have Parent Permission Form submitted by February 5, 2027

If you have any questions, contact Tonya Jones at 229-322-4444 or tonya.jones@sumteremc.com. Click below when you are ready to apply!

WYT Application

Thank you for supporting the students who are applying for the 2027 Washington Youth Tour and we appreciate your help in choosing four who will absorb all this trip has to offer. Deadline for student applications is January 29, 2027, so if you know a student who needs to apply, please share "www.sumteremc.coop/wyt" with them!

Each student must have two teacher recommendations submitted by February 5, 2027.

Teacher Recommendation

Thank you for supporting your student who is applying for the 2027 Washington Youth Tour. This trip takes many students out of their comfort zone. We want to make sure we select four students who are willing to leave their comfort zone and travel to Washington D.C. with Georgia EMC chaperones and over 100 other delegates chosen by cooperatives from across the state. We are excited to review your student's application!

Deadline for the student's application is January 29, 2027. Each student must have two teacher recommendations and the parent permission form submitted by February 5, 2027.

Parent Permission Form

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