Last Updated on July 7, 2026 9:36 am
Lenoir, North Carolina (July 7, 2026) — Five local high school students participating in Blue Ridge Energy’s Leadership Track program recently earned the opportunity to spend an all-expense-paid week in Washington, D.C., representing their electric cooperative on the national Washington Youth Tour.
Blue Ridge Energy students joined more than 1,800 other students from across America for the 61st annual Electric Cooperative Youth Tour — a leadership, travel, and educational opportunity for young men and women. During the tour, students learned about American government, U.S. history, and the cooperative business model.
Youth Tour representatives from Blue Ridge Energy were:
- Caldwell County: Brianna Gonzalez, Caldwell Early College High School, daughter of Juan Martinez and Veronica Trejo of Lenoir;
- Watauga County: Lily Olson, Watauga High School, daughter of Dan and Carroll Olson of Boone;
- Ashe County: Ethan Lea, Ashe County High School, son of Michael and Natalie Lea of Jefferson;
- Alleghany County: June Mangano, Alleghany High School, daughter of Phaedra Walker of Laurel Springs and Patrick Tucker, Alleghany High School, son of Patrick and Julie Tucker of Sparta;
The Blue Ridge Energy Leadership Track is a program designed for high school students that focuses on leadership development and prepares them for college. The Leadership Track program is free to join. For more information, including an application, please visit www.blueridgeenergy.com/community/leadership-track.
Blue Ridge Energy is a member-owned electric cooperative serving some 80,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, and Alleghany counties as well as parts of Wilkes, Avery, and Alexander counties. It also includes a propane heating fuels subsidiary and a business-to-business telecommunications subsidiary. To learn more about youth leadership and scholarship opportunities, visit Blue Ridge Energy’s website at www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com under “Community” or contact your local Blue Ridge Energy office.
17 June 2026 – WASHINGTON, DC – — Students participate in North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives’ 2026 Youth Tour on June 17, 2026, in Washington. Students apply and are selected by their local electric cooperative to take part in the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, which helps them gain a personal understanding of American history and their role as citizens.
Photo by Shawn Moore / https://www.shawnmoorephoto.com
