PRVEPA Chooses 2026 Cooperative Youth Leaders
Pearl River Valley Electric’s Cooperative University, now in its fourth year, sends students on a life-changing trip to Washington D.C. For nearly 40 years, the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi’s Cooperative Youth Leaders Program has given students the chance to develop leadership skills while learning about the cooperative business model and experiencing the democratic process at state and federal levels.
The first step in the Youth Leadership Program is PRVEPA’s Cooperative University which is held at the National Guard Armory in Columbia. Cooperative University is a one-day event where each school is represented by two students. The day consists of speakers, games, and various demonstrations. This year, speakers included representatives from Cooperative Energy, past leadership program students and local legislators.
“The program has helped so many students realize a dream of traveling to see our nation’s capital,” said Leif Munkel, manager of marketing, communications and member services. “For many students the trip to Washington D.C. is an eye-opening experience and exposes them up to a much larger world.”
This year, 26 students from 14 schools sent students to the Cooperative University on November 5th. Judges interviewed all 26 students and chose two winners. This year’s winners are Michelle Xie from Oak Grove High School and Somtochi Offiah from Sacred Heart Catholic School.
Michelle Xie is active in Mu Alpha Theta and serves as the Junior Class Secretary. She is also a student representative on the Mississippi State Board of Education. Somtochi Offiah is her classes Student Council Treasurer and is active in Beta Club and Girl Scouts. She also plays Soccer for Sacred Heart Catholic High School.
Michelle and Somtochi will join thousands of other students from around the country in June to attend the Youth Tour in Washington D.C. There they will have the opportunities to meet their legislators, tour the U.S. Capitol and do lots of other site seeing.