Two high school students, Caroline Meadows and Chris Refer, have been selected to attend the 2011 Youth Leadership Summit in Nashville, TN, March 21- 23.  The Youth Leadership Summit is sponsored annually by the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association and Tennessee's power distributors including Fayetteville Public Utilities.

This two and one-half day seminar educates young leaders about our state government and hometown electric cooperatives, enhances leadership abilities and gives them an opportunity to meet our state legislators on Capitol Hill. 

Highlights of the seminar include a tour of the State Capitol and an opportunity to listen to House and Senate Committee meetings at Legislative Plaza. The Summit also includes special leadership development presentations from the reigning Miss Tennessee, Tennessee Titan's cheerleaders, and others. The group will spend a day at the Nashville YMCA learning teamwork, problem-solving and enhancing their leadership skills.

While visiting Capitol Hill, the Lincoln County group plans to meet with state representatives.

Meadows and Refer will also learn from electric cooperative employees the importance of having a hometown, locally-owned and -operated electric utility in their community. Employees lead a learning session entitled "Mission in Control." They also help the group organize their own electric cooperative and watch as the youth discuss how they would best handle real-life, difficult situations facing cooperatives today.

Students will also compete in the long-time favorite of the Youth Leadership Summit - the Energy Battle - where the youth compete in a fun and educational debate-style game of knowledge.

For added entertainment, the Summit includes a Predator's hockey game, pizza party and ice cream social.

Caroline Meadows, a junior at Riverside Christian Academy, is the daughter of Doyle and Gloria Meadows. Chris Refer, a junior at Lincoln County High School, is the son of Jon and Julie Refer.

Fayetteville Public Utilities' Ron Thomas will attend the Summit as an adult advisor for the Lincoln County students.

Cutline: From left are Britt Dye, CEO and General Manager of FPU, Chris Refer and Caroline Meadows.