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Berkeley Electric Cooperative has selected thirteen local high school students to participate in the Virtual Youth Experience (VYE), a five-day leadership summit to be held June 21-25. The VYE brings together students from across the state to discuss today’s issues with state and federal leaders from the comfort and safety of their homes using computers and mobile devices. The final day of the summit will be held in person at Fairfield Electric Cooperative in Blythewood, SC.

The students will also be asked to work in small groups to create an audio podcast on a current topic. A panel of distinguished journalist judges will review the entries and select a winning podcast. Each member of the winning group gets $5,000.

Students can also apply for the $5,000 R.D. Bennett Scholarship which is awarded to the student who best exemplifies the cooperative principle of “concern for the community.” Just as cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities while focusing on their members’ needs, this scholarship opportunity gives students the chance to better their local communities by completing a community service project.

Students representing Berkeley Electric Cooperative include:

  • Adrian Hayden, Berkeley Middle College
  • Amy Crumley, Solid Rock Believer’s Home School (Pinopolis)
  • Andrea Fletcher, Goose Creek High
  • Ashleigh Douglas, Goose Creek High
  • Gabrielle Palmer, Goose Creek High
  • Joaquin Trakas, Pinewood Preparatory
  • Kaitlin Petersen, School of the Arts (N. Charleston)
  • Katherine Morton, Cane Bay High
  • Madeline Gardner, Home school (Johns Island)
  • Nicholas White, Stratford High
  • Racheal Oladimeji, Stratford High
  • Rori Condon, Stratford High
  • William Swetckie, Goose Creek High

This is the second year that the Electric Cooperative of South Carolina have held the Virtual Youth Experience, which has temporarily taken the place of the Washington Youth Tour due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.