Flint Energies has selected four local high school students as delegates for the 2024 Washington Youth Tour (WYT). Adeline Barbour (Crawford County), Harper Bishop (Sumter County), Reid Black (Houston County) and Jeremiah Walker (Macon County) were chosen for the all-expense paid leadership development experience sponsored by electric membership cooperatives in Georgia, including Flint Energies.

For more than 50 years, the WYT has helped promising student leaders become exceptional young adults.  According to Blair Brown, WYT Coordinator for Flint Energies, the Youth Tour was established with this purpose in mind–to inspire the next generation of leaders. This year’s tour, which takes place June 14-21, offers opportunities for students to meet policy makers, tour historic monuments and participate in leadership experiences, all while making new friends from across the state and the nation.

Adeline Barbour, daughter of Rhett and Tracy Barbour of Byron, is a rising senior at The Westfield School in Perry. Her extracurricular activities include Green Team, Tri-H-Y, Art Club, Culinary Arts Club, Beta Club, Prayer Club, FCA, Key Club and Perry Youth Leadership. She plans on attending the University of Georgia to major in Agribusiness before attending law school to become an attorney.

Harper Bishop, daughter of Travis and Shelley Bishop of Americus, is a rising senior at Schley County High School in Ellaville. At school, she is the manager of the varsity baseball team as well as being on the student council and prom committee. She is a member of FBLA, science club, and a recent graduate of Flint Energies’ Empower Youth Leadership program. She also serves each summer as a Connect Camp leader with her church. She hopes to major in political science with a minor in sports management.

Reid Black, son of Spencer and Andrea Black of Perry, is a rising senior at The Westfield School in Perry. Reid is a four-sport athlete, playing basketball, baseball, and running both track and cross country. He is also the chaplain for the student council, and a member of the Beta Club, Key Club, Green Team, Prayer Club and Perry Youth Leadership. He plans to attend the University of Georgia to pursue a degree in business or finance. One day, he hopes to work as an agent for professional athletes and be a member of the State Government of Georgia. 

Jeremiah Walker, son of Kim Paster of Montezuma, is a rising senior at Macon County High School in Montezuma. He leads the tuba section in his school’s marching band, and is involved with the STEM program, National High School Scholars, and is a recent graduate of Flint Energies’ Empower Youth Leadership program. He plans to become an agricultural engineer after attending Fort Valley State University.  

Qualifying students who complete the Washington Youth Tour application participate in a selection process including a quiz testing their knowledge of Flint Energies, electric cooperatives and the Youth Tour. The top ten scorers from the quiz move on to a personal interview where a panel of judges select four delegates and one alternate.

The 112 teen-delegates from all around Georgia will gather in Atlanta to kick off the tour, spending time getting to know each other before departing for Washington, D.C. When the group arrives in D.C., participants tour historic locations such as Mount Vernon, explore museums and monuments and meet with their elected officials to discuss issues that are important back home. Georgia’s delegation will convene with more than 1,000 youth representing cooperatives across the nation and have the opportunity to mingle with peers from other states and exchange views concerning local and national issues.

Upon their return from D.C., student delegates will serve as Youth Tour Ambassadors for Flint to help promote the program to future applicants. Each student will also receive a $2,500 college scholarship courtesy of the Flint Energies Foundation.

Since 1965, the Washington Youth Tour has given 3,600 students in Georgia and more than 55,000 students nationwide the opportunity to take part in this leadership and team-building experience. For more information on the Washington Youth Tour, go to flintenergies.com/wyt.