Hardy Telecommunications is sending two local high school juniors on a four-day expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.
Hardy Marketing/Human Resource Director Derek Barr said East Hardy High School’s Chelsea Wilson and Moorefield High School’s Tori Burdette have been selected as this year’s participants in the Foundation for Rural Service Youth Tour June 4-8 in Washington, D.C.
The FRS Youth Tour is a four-day trip during which students from rural areas all over the United States have the opportunity to tour our nation’s capital and learn more about the telecommunications industry. Hardy sponsors two students for the tour and pays all basic expenses, including hotel, meals, and transportation.
Chelsea and Tori both have served on Hardy’s Youth Advisory Board. Chelsea was on Hardy’s second Youth Board in 2008, and Tori is a current member of the group.
“It’s not a requirement for a student to serve on our Youth Board to be selected for the tour,” said Derek, who will be attending his sixth tour as chaperone. “But we’ve found that the students who are most familiar with our business are the most eager to be a part of the Youth Tour. It really is an incredible opportunity to be able to see so much of our nation’s capital and meet other students from around the country.”
Chelsea is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Club, Future Business Leaders of America, and Student Council at East Hardy High. She said in her application for the tour that she thinks traveling is a wonderful way to learn.
“Traveling to our nation’s capital would be a wonderful opportunity and experience,” she said.
Tori, who takes part in the Spanish Club and Student Council at Moorefield High and serves as Class Secretary, said participating in the FRS Youth Tour would be a great benefit as she prepares for her senior year.
“Along with this I hope to expand my knowledge of politics and our nation’s capital,” she said.
The agenda for this year’s FRS Youth Tour has the group visiting the Smithsonian Museums, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial, National Zoo, National Cathedral, Newseum, U.S. Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, and Mount Vernon. Last year about 100 high school juniors, all sponsored by their local telecommunications company, attended the Youth Tour.
The tour also seeks to educate the students about the telecommunications industry and its importance in rural areas. The tour will include educational sessions about telecommunications and the governmental process. The students attend a presentation at the Federal Communications Commission Meeting Room and are able to ask questions of a commissioner about telecommunications issues affecting rural areas.
The students also get first-hand experience on the political and legislative process. Last year they visited their respective congressional representatives’ offices to present their opinions about telecommunications issues affecting rural areas.