Colby Colgate from Custer County High School and Sarah Leatherbery from Cotopaxi High School were among more than 1,500 high school students from across the country who participated in the electric cooperative Youth Tour held June 11-18 in Washington, D.C.  Selected on the basis of an application and essay, Colby and Sarah were sponsored by Sangre De Cristo Electric Association in Buena Vista.

Each year in June, an action-filled week provides high school students opportunities to learn first-hand what it is like to be involved in politics, community service and today’s pressing issues. 

Colgate called the trip the experience of a lifetime.  “While in Washington, D.C., I met people from nearly every state and visited historic monuments and museums. One of the most exciting aspects of the trip was interacting with my legislators on Capitol Hill,” she said.  “I learned so much about the role of electric cooperatives in the energy industry.”

“What I learned on the Youth Tour makes me proud to be an American and to show that America’s youth are involved and care about this country and our communities,” said Leatherbery.

All the state groups convened for National Youth Day on June 15 to learn about current energy issues and cooperative history and to hear an inspirational message. Among the featured speakers was Mike Schlappi, a four-time Paralympic medalist and two-time world champion wheelchair basketball champion.  Schlappi shares his inspiring message for every American, young or old: “Just because you can’t stand up, doesn’t mean you can’t stand out.” 

For 46 years, Sangre De Cristo Electric and other electric distribution cooperatives have partnered with the Colorado Rural Electric Association and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association to sponsor the annual Youth Tour. Since 1964, more than 40,000 high school juniors and seniors have visited their U.S. congressional delegations, attended energy and grassroots government education sessions and toured Washington, D.C.  For more information, please go to http://www.youthtour.coop.

Colby is the daughter of Shannon and Debra Colgate of rural Westcliffe and Sarah is the daughter of Glen and Margaret Leatherbery of Howard.