Washington Youth Tour
Since 1965, the Washington Youth Tour has given more than 3,000 students from Georgia and more than 50,000 nationwide the opportunity to take part in this unique experience. President Lyndon Johnson initially requested the program to “send youngsters to the nation’s capital where they can actually see what the flag stands for and represents.” The Georgia delegation will join more than 1, 800 additional youth representing cooperatives across the nation. The students will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and views about local and national issues with peers from other states.
Makayla Dent and Jamereon Edwards of Stewart County High School have been selected to attend the 55th annual Washington Youth Tour, a once in a lifetime leadership experience, made possible through the generosity of the electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) in Georgia, including Sumter EMC.
Makayla Dent, daughter of Sumter EMC members, Leticia and Carlos Dent and big sister to Tobias Dent, is a junior at Stewart County High School.
Makayla is active in several school activities, including the JROTC rifle team, volleyball, and chorus. She was also the recipient of several honors and awards during her time at Stewart County High School, including Most Improved Shooter, highest biology milestones score, and a REACH scholar.
She says math is her favorite subject in school, as she enjoys the challenge of solving problems and working them out until the end. The teacher who has inspired her the most is Mrs. Carter, Makayla says Mrs. Carter always makes sure she never gives up and that she keeps going to fulfill her dreams.
In Makayla's spare time, she enjoys singing, dancing, cooking, hanging out with her friends, shopping, and writing. After high school, she hopes to attend either Kennesaw State or Clark-Atlanta University, where she plans to major in business.
Makayla is looking forward to this experience and attending the Tour. She hopes to learn more about history while in our nation's capital.
Jamereon Edwards is a junior at Stewart County High School, where he enjoys studying history. He lists multiple teachers, including Mr. Marcus Taylor, Coach Royal, and Ret. 1st Sgt. Jester as inspiring him to be successful in life.
Jamereon is active in his community and his school. He participates in JROTC, where he is the Battalion Executive Officer and the Cadet Major. He is also involved in the drill team and serves as Captain of the rifle team. He enjoys playing varsity football and baseball, where he received the Coaches Award and serves as a captain for both.
In addition to his school activities, he participates in the Stewart County 4H Club, is a member of the youth choir at Bronson Memorial Baptist Church and the Mt. Mariah Association. He participates in neighborhood cleanups and volunteers his time with health fairs sponsored by 4H.
His plans include attending Clayton State, where he hopes to major in criminal justice and forensics. After college, he would like to become an officer and work on solving cold cases. His future career aspiration is to also work as an officer for the CIA.
He was the recipient of several awards at his school, including the Irad Pittman Award, academic excellence, and perfect attendance. His hobbies include playing video games, being active outdoors, and serving as a volunteer in children's activities.
Jamereon is the son of Sumter EMC members, Ruth and William Edwards, and has three older brothers and three older sisters. His family fellowships at Enterprise Baptist Church and Bronson Memorial Baptist Church.
Jamereon is grateful for the opportunity to attend the Tour and visit the Nation's capital. He hopes to learn more about government and is looking forward to sharing his experience with others in his community.
“The Youth Tour was established to inspire the next generation of leaders,” says Andrea Walker with Sumter EMC. Due to the pandemic, the 2020 tour was canceled. Even though their tour experience has been delayed to 2021, these two students will still have the great exposure to the fast-paced world of politics and provide valuable lessons in leadership.
Walter Harrison Scholarship
The Walter Harrison Scholarship program was created in 1985 in memory of Walter Harrison, a Georgia and national rural electric co-op pioneer. The statewide scholarship is funded through donations contributed by EMCs throughout Georgia and pays $1,000 to each winner. Recipients can use the scholarship at any two or four-year accredited university or college (including vocational-technical colleges) in Georgia.
Each year, Sumter EMC submits the applications of two local finalists to Georgia EMC. Georgia EMC's scholarship committee judges applications from across the state and selects the final winners. Both financial need and academic ability are used in determining winners. To be eligible, a candidate must reside in the household (primary residence) of a Sumter EMC member.
Contact Whitney Johnson at Sumter EMC, (229) 924-8041, (800) 342-6978, via email to Whitney Johnson, or click one of the links below to view the 2020 scholarship application and criteria for eligibility:
Walter Harrison Scholarship Application
Applications for 2021 must be submitted to Sumter EMC no later than January 15, 2021. Send your completed application to: Whitney Johnson, Sumter EMC, P. O. Box 1048, Americus, GA 31709. Recipients will be announced in May.
FFA Electrification Contest
Sumter EMC is proud to support (along with other Georgia EMCs) participation by local schools in the EMC/FFA Electrification Contest. The wiring contest is a competitive educational program which promotes the safe, efficient use of electrical energy.
For more information, contact Jason Hall, Energy Services Representative for Sumter EMC, or:
- Click here to visit the Georgia FFA Association website.
- Click here to view FFA photos
Young Co-op Couples Conference
Each year Sumter EMC selects a young couple from its service area to represent the Cooperative at the Young Couples Cooperative Conference which is sponsored by the Georgia Cooperative Council, Inc., the South Carolina Council of Cooperatives, and the Cooperative Council of North Carolina. The goals of this unique three-day conference are:
- To provide an opportunity for young couples to gain additional knowledge and insight in the economic and service opportunities afforded by their cooperatives.
- To provide an opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences in leadership needs in their cooperatives and in their communities.
- To provide an opportunity to make new friends.
- To find out what young couples are thinking so cooperatives can better serve their needs.
The ultimate purpose is to strengthen the relationship between cooperatives and participating couples. For more information on the conference, contact our Member Services Department or send an email to Whitney Johnson.
GHSA State Championships
Sumter EMC joins 29 EMCs across the state to announce a partnership with the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) to sponsor more than 80 state championships during the 2020-2021 season. This season marks the 20th consecutive year Georgia's EMCs have been GHSA sponsors.
Long-time supporters of a variety of programs for students, the sponsorship allows Sumter EMC to support student athletes, parents and the entire athletic community. This year's championship games will feature sports ranging from football to track, riflery to basketball. State championships also include literary competitions such as one-act plays and debate.
Plan to attend these great events and bring your family! For a complete calendar of events, visit the GHSA web site at www.ghsa.net .