One student, one unforgettable journey: Annie McAlister represents Central on the 2026 Youth Tour

For more than 60 years, the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has given high school students from across the country the opportunity to experience history, leadership and public service firsthand in Washington, D.C.

Each June, nearly 2,000 students sponsored by electric cooperatives travel to the nation’s capital to meet with elected officials, explore historic landmarks and learn how electric cooperatives work together to serve communities across America.

This year, Central Electric Power Cooperative was proud to sponsor Annie McAlister, a rising senior at Chapin High School, for the 2026 Cooperative Youth Tour.

Throughout the week, Annie toured some of the nation’s most iconic sites, including the U.S. Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Pentagon Memorial and several Smithsonian museums. Along the way, she connected with students from across the country through activities like state pin trading, group meals and evening events.

“My favorite part was trading pins because it gave me the opportunity to meet and talk with people from all over the country,” Annie said. “The group meals helped everyone get to know each other, and the dances, especially the boat cruise, made it easy to build friendships with students from other states.”

The trip also offered countless opportunities to learn beyond the classroom. Annie was fascinated to discover that the Washington Monument is constructed with two different shades of marble, that the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded every hour of every day and that George Washington made it a point to never eat alone, regularly inviting guests to join him for meals at Mount Vernon.

She also came away with a deeper appreciation for the role electric cooperatives play across the country.

“I learned the electric cooperative network is much larger than I expected,” Annie said. “Co-ops serve rural communities in nearly every state, and they work together to make sure people have reliable power. I also learned that electric cooperatives have a voice in Washington and help educate policymakers on issues that affect the communities they serve.”

One message from U.S. Sen. Tim Scott resonated with Annie throughout the trip: “The only failure is the failure to try.”

Youth Tour is more than a week of sightseeing. It is an investment in future leaders, giving students the chance to broaden their perspectives, build lifelong friendships and better understand the cooperative difference.

Central is honored to support programs like Youth Tour that inspire the next generation to lead, serve and make a difference in their communities.