History Comes Alive
Five local students attended Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Washington, D.C.
From left: Addison Gardner, Pit Caudle and Carsyn Williams represented Ozarks Electric's Arkansas territory at the 2026 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour this summer in Washington, D.C. (Photo provided).
Five current seniors spent part of their summer at the monuments, museums and meeting rooms of Washington, D.C., during the 2026 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. Sponsored by Ozarks Electric Cooperative, the delegates spent a week focused on leadership, government, service and the cooperative mission. They joined more than 2,000 students, chaperones and staff representing more than 600 electric cooperatives nationwide. Each one returned with a different moment that stayed with them.
Applications for the June 2027 Youth Tour open Oct. 1. High school juniors attending a high school within the Ozarks Electric service territory are eligible to apply. ozarksecc.com/community/youth-tour.
Pit Caudle
West Fork High School
Most Memorable Experience:
Standing with my fellow Youth Tour delegates at the Lincoln Memorial at night. Seeing the monument illuminated while reflecting on its history was a powerful experience. It reminded me of the importance of leadership, service and working to make a positive difference in my community.
How I Grew:
Youth Tour pushed me outside my comfort zone and gave me the confidence to connect with new people from across the country. It strengthened my leadership skills, encouraged me to share my ideas, and showed me the value of learning from people with different backgrounds and experiences.
Addison Gardner
Prairie Grove High School
Most Memorable Experience:
Visiting the U.S. Capitol and meeting Arkansas’ senators. It was incredible to stand in a place where so many important decisions for our country are made and to see firsthand the history and significance of our government. Seeing the Capitol in person was much more impactful than any picture or video could capture.
What I Learned:
The experience changed the way I think about leadership. I learned that leadership is not just about holding a position or being in charge. It is about serving others, listening to different perspectives, and working together to make a positive impact.
To Future Applicants:
Apply, even if you’re unsure. I almost let the fear of not being chosen keep me from applying, but I’m so glad I took the chance.
Carsyn Williams
Fayetteville High School
Most Memorable Experience:
Seeing the Constitution. It’s the backbone of our whole federal government and is so essential to America as a whole. Seeing the actual document with the real signatures, knowing how old yet how kept up it was, took my breath away.
I’ll Never Forget:
Arlington National Cemetery and how many graves there were. They seemed to go on forever. Seeing all the graves really made that quote “Freedom is not free ” a reality. I will never forget just how much was sacrificed for our freedom.
Brayden Duncan
Westville High School
Most Memorable Experience:
Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol. It was awesome to see Sequoyah representing Cherokee Nation, a tribe that continues to bring great respect and honorable qualities to Oklahoma.
The First Night:
I will never forget walking around and seeing the MLK Memorial, FDR Memorial and Jefferson memorial, already making deep connections with the friends I will have forever. I’ll never forget the confidence I felt walking around and knowing that people believed in me and I made it there.
The Time of My Life:
I miss it. It was the time of my life and I wish I could go again. I want this experience for every student at Westville.
Kaselyn Killer
Westville High School
Most Memorable Experience:
The Holocaust Museum. It was very heart breaking to see what happened, knowing they were human beings just like me. It made me think differently on how I should treat other people no matter our differences. Genocide starts with words.
Getting Out of My Comfort Zone:
Youth Tour is a great way to get out of your comfort zone, talk to others and grow as a person. You get to see other people’s views on life.
Brayden Duncan, left, and Kaselyn Killer represented Ozarks Electricʼs Oklahoma territory at the 2026 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour this summer in Washington, D.C. (Photo provided).