December 13, 2006
Sawnee EMC Accepting Applications for Washington Youth Tour

Cindy Badgett, Director of External Affairs

Once a year, Sawnee EMC selects two (2) high school juniors or seniors as delegates on the Washington Youth Tour. To be eligible, the students must be between the ages of 16 and 18 and attend one of the following high schools: Centennial, Chattahoochee, Dawson, Forsyth, Lumpkin, Milton, North Forsyth, North Hall, Northview, Pinecrest, Sequoyah, South Forsyth, St. Francis or West Hall high schools. These students will join 95 other students from Georgia to represent our state in Washington D.C. – all expenses paid. Once in D.C., the group connects with hundreds of students from across the country for one incredible week in our national capital. The Washington Youth Tour is a fast-paced once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see how America works. This summer’s tour will be held June 7 – 14, 2007. Deadline for entry is February 2, 2007. Applications can be found at the schools guidance counselor’s offices or online at www.sawnee.com.

        “It is not just a week of sightseeing. It is even more than a chance to meet other students from across the nation and shake hands with congressmen. I gained a new sense of pride in my country and respect for those who fight and defend the freedoms it offers.” These feelings, expressed by a recent delegate underscores the emphasis of the program – a top-notch tour of our nation’s capital that includes meetings with state and national leaders and leadership training, as well as visiting all the major sights. Students also meet and discuss their views with students from other states while learning about history, government and careers in public service.

            Senator Lyndon Johnson inspired the Washington Youth Tour at the NRECA Annual Meeting in Chicago in 1957. Since then, over 40,000 students have visited Washington to learn about electric cooperatives, American history and U.S. government. The rural electric cooperatives think education is important – education about electric cooperatives and education about America, therefore the tradition continues.

            For more information or to apply, call Cindy Badgett, Director of External Affairs at 678-455-1539 or visit Sawnee’s Web site at www.sawnee.com.

About Sawnee EMC:

Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is a distribution electric cooperative headquartered in Cumming, Georgia. Sawnee serves electricity to over 128,000 accounts in greater north Georgia. Sawnee assets exceed $368 million with annual energy sales of 2.23 billion and revenue of $201 M. With over 296 dedicated employees making up a team of professionals that meet the needs of its member-owners through a network of over 8,300 miles of distribution facilities in Sawnee’s complex network of distribution facilities.