Local students from Habersham County have been selected to visit Washington D.C. in the coming months.
Madison Garrett of Mt. Airy and Charlotte Stafford of Clarkesville have been chosen to participate in the 2025 Washington Youth Tour, a distinguished leadership program sponsored by Georgia’s electric membership cooperatives (EMCs), including Habersham EMC.
Garrett, a junior at Habersham Central High School, and Stafford, a junior at Tallulah Falls School, will embark on this once-in-a-lifetime experience from June 13-20. Designed to inspire the next generation of leaders, the Washington Youth Tour offers students an immersive look at politics, leadership, and government operations.
Before departing for Washington, D.C., the Georgia delegation will gather in Atlanta for an orientation. While in the nation’s capital, student delegates will meet with elected officials to discuss issues relevant to Georgia, explore historic landmarks, and engage in discussions on leadership and civic responsibility. They will also join more than 1,700 students from across the country, providing them with an opportunity to exchange ideas with peers from other states.
Former participants have praised the program for its lasting impact as well. “I am so unbelievably grateful to have had this experience – what an honor it was to be chosen,” Chesney Tanksley, a past delegate from Habersham EMC, said. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip that has impacted my life.”
Since its inception in 1965, the Washington Youth Tour has provided more than 3,000 Georgia students and over 50,000 students nationwide with this unique educational opportunity. The program was originally established at the request of President Lyndon B. Johnson to help young people gain a deeper understanding of democracy and civic engagement.
For more information, visit habershamemc.com or call (706) 754-2114, (706) 865-4362, or (800) 640-6812.
