DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — Opportunity has come knocking for four local students who are headed to Washington, D.C., this summer to expand their knowledge and sense of patriotism.
Rachel Gold, Devin Herrington, Brandon Engler and Christopher Hammonds will take in the sites and meet federal officials June 15-20 after winning the local Youth Tour program competition sponsored by electric cooperatives around the country.
The high school juniors were selected from 17 students in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Holmes counties after impressive interviews with a panel of judges from the Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative, the local sponsor of the all-expense-paid trip.
“I wasn’t expecting it,” said 16-year-old Devin Harrington of Freeport High. “There were so many good applicants for it.”
Devin said she’s been interested in participating in Youth Tour since her freshman year when her best friend came home talking about how amazing the program had been. When her chance finally came around, though, Devin almost missed it.
In fact, if a student hadn’t dropped out at the last minute and a school guidance counselor hadn’t called her, Devin wouldn’t be about to see Washington and the White House for the first time, she said.
Rachel, who participates in Niceville High’s Junior ROTC, said she’s been to Washington once before but was too young to remember it, so she’s excited about the trip.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing history,” she said, “We read about it so much, so I’d really like it to click.”
In addition to meeting senators and representatives, the students will visit museums, historical sites and attend a musical performance, she said.
CHELCO has been sending local students to Washington for three decades as part of a national effort started by then-Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson in 1958, according to the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour website.
Some 1,500 students are chosen for the trip each year.
For Christopher Hammonds, getting to Washington will be the best part for now because he’s never been on an airplane.
“I’m excited about it,” the Paxton High student said. “I’ve always wanted to.”
Once he’s there, Christopher said he plans to enjoy the sites and enter the competition to be Florida’s ambassador for the program.
If the speech he’s already started working on lands him the spot, he’ll not only get to fly again, but travel more and remain involved in the electric cooperative community he’s only just learned about.
“It was definitely worth the effort,” the 17-year-old said.
Brandon Engler from Baker School could not be reached for comment.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Katie Tammen at 850-315-4440 or ktammen@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieTnwfdn.