Three high school upperclassmen from CEC member-households joined dozens of their peers from across Virginia last weekend at a three-day youth leadership conference hosted by the Virginia Cooperative Council, a not-for-profit association that helps electric, agriculture and commodity cooperatives fulfill their missions.
Nearly fifty students attended the conference held at a lodge in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The Virginia Institute on Cooperative Education (VICE) conference, held annually, educates high school juniors and seniors about cooperatives and the co-op form of business through interactive instruction activities. Students gain teamwork, leadership and communication skills, with top performers having the opportunity to receive up to $2,000 in educational scholarships.
The students who attended as part of Community Electric’s Youth Program are:
- Zephyniah Havens, Homeschool
- Jorja Powell, Windsor High School
- Miriam Weatherly, Homeschool
They were accompanied at the conference by CEC Manager of Administrative Services Lucy Whitley, who took part in last year’s CEC Youth Program.
“As a firm believer in the potential of our youth, I've seen how events like VICE ignite a spark of curiosity and passion within our students,” Whitley said. “Beyond the classroom, they learn the real-world applications of cooperation, economics and leadership. It's not just about scholarships and accolades; it's about nurturing a generation of informed, conscientious citizens who will shape a brighter future for us all.”
The VICE conference is one of the three major events that comprise Community Electric’s Youth Programs. The others are Day in the Life of a Lineman, which is held the last Tuesday of February, and Youth Tour, which will take place June 17-21 in northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.
CEC conducts Day in the Life of a Lineman to raise awareness about the services provided by the cooperative and its all-important line crew. Participating students accompany linemen in bucket trucks, climb utility poles and witness a “live line” safety demonstration to learn how the cooperative distributes electricity to its member-owners, and to speak with line workers face to face about the challenges and benefits of their jobs.
The Youth Tour is organized by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, of which CEC is a member. It is a busy week of sights and stops – including a visit to the U.S. Capitol – that last year brought to Washington more than 1,800 youth delegates and chaperones from more than 40 states. Within Youth Tour, there are various leadership and scholarship opportunities.
At VICE, one of the primary activities is a team competition to run cooperative businesses. Students learn how to make marketing and financial decisions and interpret the results of their decisions through operating statements and financial reports.
“As chaperone to our bright young minds at the VICE conference, I witnessed firsthand the transformative power of cooperative education. Beyond the interactive activities and scholarship opportunities, what struck me most was the cultivation of invaluable teamwork, leadership and communication skills among our students,” Whitley said. “This experience not only equips them for academic success but also instills a deep understanding of the cooperative ethos, preparing them to be informed and empowered leaders in their communities.”
Community Electric revamped the application process for its Youth Programs last year to so that students interested in participating would have to complete only one, joint application. By participating in all three events and crafting two social media posts per event, students qualify for a $1,000 academic scholarship. They also will be able to contribute to the local community through a $500 donation that the cooperative makes on behalf of each student to a nonprofit [Section 501(c)(3)] organization, of the student’s choosing, in CEC’s service area. After the application period closes, Community Electric selects three students to participate in the three-event program based upon the quality of their applications.
Applications for the 2025 Youth Programs will open in the fall of 2024. Students who are selected will be notified before January 1, 2025. Learn more about the Youth Programs and keep an eye out for the opening of the application period at this section of the CEC website: https://www.comelec.coop/community/youth-programs/