EMEPA - Youth Tours

Youth Tours

History

The Youth Tour Program was inspired by Senator Lyndon B. Johnson as he addressed the 1957 annual meeting of all electric cooperatives. His hopes were that electric cooperatives would send young people to our nation's capital where they could actually see what our nation's flag represents. That same year, Texas cooperatives joined together and sent a group of young people to Washington, DC where they toured the Capital and met with the President and their Congressmen. The next year, Iowa joined the efforts of Texas and the Rural Electric Youth Tour Program began. By 1964, the national office of rural electric cooperatives began coordinating the trip and declared the second week in June as National Rural Electric Youth Tour Week.

Nomination Process

Students were nominated from area high schools to participate in the EMEPA Youth Tour program. Eleven schools from East Mississippi participated in the program this year. These eleven students and their parents were invited to a casual dinner at EMEPA headquarters in Meridian. Dinner was provided along with a program about EMEPA and Youth Tour.

Interview Process

Students participate in a 10-minute interview with a panel of judges from the community and other electric power associations in Mississippi. Students are judged on their ability to discuss electric cooperatives and the Youth Tour program. In addition, students are given a chance to discuss their community involvement and leadership abilities.

Cooperative University

"Cooperative University" is a one-day class where students are trained on the cooperative business model, the utility industry and the national Youth Tour program. Students also participate in leadership and team building exercises.

Leadership Workshop in Jackson, MS

EMEPA students participate in the Youth Leadership Workshop held each year in Jackson during the Spring. At this meeting, students will form a mock government, participate in team building exercises and meet with state legislators during the annual Youth Leadership breakfast. Students meet other students from across the state and build their leadership skills together through a variety of activities held during the three-day workshop.

NRECA's Rural Electric Youth Tour

Two to three students are selected by the interview panel to travel on an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to represent EMEPA. Kierra Phillips from Noxapater Attendance Center, Zoria Nicholson from Louisville High School and Alec Marlow from Southeast Lauderdale High School were chosen for the 2015 Youth Tour. These students travel in June to Washington, D.C. with 1,500 students from across the country to tour our nation's capital while learning about national government and rural electrification.

17th Annual Summer Leadership Institute For High School Students

SPONSORED BY THE LOTT LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE AND DIVISION OF OUTREACH

Session 1: May 30 – July 2, 2016
Session 2: June 26 – July 30, 2016

FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SUMMER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, PLEASE CONTACT:

Cass Dodgen

cass@olemiss.edu

Since the Lott Summer Leadership Institute for High School Students was initiated in the summer of 2000 at the University of Mississippi, hundreds of students have expressed enthusiasm for the life-altering experience of participating in the Summer Leadership Institute. If you are a junior in high school who is interested in leadership, we have a question for you: Are you ready — for an experience that could change your life?

Campus Living: 

Washington, D.C. Trip: 

"The Lott Experience" 

GENERAL INFORMATION: 

The Summer Leadership Institute for High School Students is a partnership between the University of Mississippi's Lott Leadership Institute and the Division of Outreach's Summer College for High School Students. The goals of the program are to develop leadership skills in young citizens and prepare them for college. In order to achieve these goals, the Summer Leadership Institute brings together student leaders from across the Southeast to earn college credit on the UM campus and to begin the study of leadership.

Included in the program are opportunities to mingle with college administrators, student leaders, and community leaders while participating in current event debates, discussions, and decision-making activities. The program culminates with a one-week trip to Washington, D.C., during which the participants see the federal government in action, hear from national leaders, and tour the nation's Capitol. The ideal outcome is for students who complete the program to return to their high schools and put their new skills to work for the betterment of their own schools and communities.

PROGRAM DATES: 

There are two sessions of the Lott Leadership Institute to choose between. Accepted students are enrolled in two University of Mississippi classes and must attend all meetings. The trip to Washington, DC, is a mandatory component of the program and students must fly to and from DC with the group. Students unable to commit to the below dates should not apply to the program.

Students selected to participate in the first session should be prepared to check-in on the campus of Ole Miss beginning at 1 p.m. on May 30, 2016. A brief welcome and orientation for parents and students will occur at 4 PM on (Directions given at Check-In). Directions to UM and a campus map are available at: http://map.olemiss.edu/ The trip to DC for this group is tentatively set for June 24- July 1. Participants may depart campus after 1 p.m. on July 2, 2016.

Students selected to participate in the second session should be prepared to check-in on the campus of Ole Miss beginning at 1 p.m. on June 26, 2016. A brief welcome and orientation for parents and students will occur at 4 PM on (Directions given at Check-In). Directions to UM and a campus map are available at: http://map.olemiss.edu/ The trip to DC for this group is tentatively set for July 22-29. Participants may depart campus after 1 p.m. on July 30, 2016.

TO APPLY: 

In order to be considered for selection, students MUST meet the following UM early admission requirements:

• Be an eleventh-grade student in good academic and conduct standing at the time of admission. The school can be public, private, parochial, or even home-educated.
• Have earned 15 high school credits (by June 2016) with at least a 3.2 GPA.
• Complete an online application.

Upon nomination, an application packet will be mailed directly to the student at his/her home address. The selection committee will select the participants and a number of alternatives from the applicant pool. 

NOMINATIONS DEADLINES: 

Each school has until December 1, 2015 to send its nominations to the Summer College Office. Upon receiving a school's nominations from the principal or guidance counselor, a brochure and letter with directions to complete the online application will be sent directly to the student's home address.

Counselors, click here to submit an online nomination.

Students must submit the application prior to February 1, 2016 in order to be considered by the selection committee.

SELECTION PROCESS: 

From the group of nominated applicants, a committee comprised of University officials will select 40 total applicants, 20 per session. Students will be ranked on demonstrated interest in public service, leadership, concern for others, and academic achievements. The committee will attempt to form a class with diverse interests and experiences. In addition to the 40 selected to participate, a small number of alternates will be designated, and some applicants not selected will be offered scholarships to attend the Summer College for High School Students Program.

COLLEGE COURSEWORK: 

Participants will take Political Science 101, Introduction to American Politics, which emphasizes constitutional principles of the U.S. government. Students will investigate political procedures, electoral processes, and political institutions. Participants will also take Speech 102, Fundamentals of Public Speaking, in which they will learn how to organize, prepare, and deliver speeches in a variety of public forums. Combined, these courses provide 6 hours of college credit.

New Mississippi Scholars/Mississippi Scholars Tech Master Forms!

New Mississippi Scholars/Mississippi Scholars Tech Master Forms!

Click on the Links Below to See Updated MS Scholars/MS Scholars Tech Master forms!

 

Curriculum
Outlines the MS Scholars Curriculm

Mississippi Scholars End of the Year Report
Use this form to let us know how many Mississippi Scholars graduatesyour school district has!  We use this form to determine the number of medallions, certificates, and medals we send each district for use in their awards ceremonies and graduations.

Tech Master End of the Year Report
Use this form to let us know how many Mississippi Scholars Tech Master graduatesyour school district has!  We use this form to determine the number of medallions, certificates, and medals we send each district for use in their awards ceremonies and graduations.