CRESTVIEW — Six North Okaloosa County students now know what it’s like to debate a bill in the State House of Representatives and hear a case in the State Supreme Court.
And one or two of them may also get to explore the nation’s capital.
See photos from the CHELCO Youth Tour of Tallahassee and banquet>>
'A LOT OF FUN'
Two high school juniors — each from Baker, Crestview High and Laurel Hill schools — were chosen as members of the CHELCO Youth Tour.
The annual competition familiarizes winners with the function of the rural electric cooperative and their state and federal governments.
For Crestview High School student Meghan Deitz, the Youth Tour’s two-day trip to Tallahassee reassured her decision to pursue a career in criminal justice.
“We did a lot,” she said. “We visited the Supreme Court where we did a mock trial. That was my favorite part.”
During electricity demonstrations, Baker School student Isaac Kimbrell was selected to grasp a Tesla ball which tingled his buzz cut.
“It was a lot of fun,” he said.
'BRILLIANT' STUDENTS
Electricity plays a central theme during Youth Tour, CHELCO communications specialist Tammy Kearce said.
“It’s to educate the young people with the NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association) and the cooperative way,” she said.
Youth Tour coordinator Bonnie Whitfield praised participants' enthusiasm and their grasp of topics posed by out-of-area judges.
“These students are brilliant, and I love to learn things from them and watch them grow,” she said.
While all 17 students from Okaloosa and Walton counties got to experience a free two-day tour of government offices in Tallahassee, just four will join 1,500 other students from around the country on a week-long trip to Washington, D.C.
After an intense round of interviews Thursday at Shoal River Middle School, Krysten Pazik and Cassidy Brazile of Paxton High School, Joseph Ledo-Massey of South Walton High School and Lyndon Truongng of Walton High School were chosen.
Both Crestview High delegates, Kyle Valerius and Meghan, were chosen as the two alternates.
CHELCO CEO Steve Rhodes said the program is “a great way to educate young folks” outside the classroom, and said he was impressed by the quality and enthusiasm of this year’s participants.
“It’s been a roaring success,” he said.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview HS juniors selected as CHELCO tour alternates (PHOTOS)