Skip to main content

Report Outage: 1-866-445-5551

MyEnergy Online Login
Report Outage
Contact Us
Home
  • My Cooperative
    • Who We Are
    • Welcome
    • Leadership
    • Annual Meeting
    • Annual Report
    • Bylaws
    • Capital Credits
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • My Account
    • Start/Stop Service
    • MyEnergy Online
      • MyEnergy Mobile App
    • Billing and Payment
      • Advance Pay
      • Auto-Pay and Draft
      • e-Billing
      • Levelized Billing
    • Understanding Your Bill
      • Billing FAQs
    • Rates
  • Member Services
    • Programs & Services
      • Beat the Peak
      • Buried Treasure
      • CHAMP
      • Dual Fuel
      • H2O Select
      • Illuma Knight
      • Smart Thermostat Program
      • Surge Guard
    • Renewable Energy
      • Green Power
      • Net Billing
      • Solar
        • Community Solar
    • Energy-Saving Measures
    • Together We Save
    • Choose EV
    • Contractor Specifications
  • In the Community
    • Operation Round Up
    • Co-op Connections
    • Education
      • Scholarships
      • Bright Ideas
      • Youth Tour
    • Environmental Programs
    • Economic Development
    • Affiliations
    • Community Rooms
  • News
    • CEO Letter
    • Press Room
    • Recent News
    • South Carolina Living Magazine
    • Integrated Resource Plan
    • Santee Cooper Settlement
  • Outages & Safety
    • Report a Power Outage
    • PEC Outage Map
    • ECSC Outage Map
    • Restoring Power
    • Safety
      • Play It Safe Kids Zone
      • Storm Safety
      • Everyday Safety
      • Safety Checklist
  • PalmettoLink Fiber
Menu

Local students participate in Virtual Youth Experience

Thursday | July 1, 2021
All News

When the risks of COVID-19 caused programs like the Washington Youth Tour and the Cooperative Youth Summit to be canceled in 2020, The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina (ECSC) created The Virtual Youth  Experience.

For the past two years, the Virtual Youth Experience has offered a wonderful opportunity for high school students in South Carolina to connect with their peers and hear directly from the people making a difference in the world today, all while remaining safe and healthy.

In June, Mary Bashaw, Ellings Hunter (sponsored by ECSC) and Tyler Peeples (sponsored by ECSC) of May River High School; Clayton Gantt and Jordan Mikell of Thomas Heyward Academy; and Tess Sanford and Danielle Silvan of Hilton Head Island High School were among 74 rising high school juniors and seniors in the state that participated in the Virtual Youth Experience, a week-long, part web-conference, part in-person event sponsored by South Carolina’s electric cooperatives. Using their laptops and smartphones, our local teens discussed issues of the day with leaders like U.S. Representatives James Clyburn and Nancy Mace and U.S. Senators Tim Scott and Lindsay Graham. Sen. Scott emphasized the importance of education in facing our country’s hurdles, calling it “the closest thing to magic in America.”

The students also got screen time with Rev. Charles Jackson of West Columbia’s Brookland Baptist Church and state Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell. To conclude their week, the students gathered in person at Fairfield Electric Cooperative where they heard inspiring messages from South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Chris  Singleton—a former professional baseball player whose mother, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, was one of nine killed in 2015’s Emanuel AME Church shooting.

The students also spent the week in teams learning how to create and produce audio podcasts that complete the sentence: “This is my country…” A group of S.C. journalists will judge the podcasts and award $5,000 scholarships to each student in the winning group. As you may remember, one of Palmetto Electric’s representatives on the 2020 Virtual Youth Experience, Mackenzie Starnes, was a member of the first winning team and a recipient of a $5,000 scholarship. We are proud of the way these future leaders have represented Palmetto Electric Cooperative.

Tess Sanford was awarded the 2021 R.D. Bennett Community Service Scholarship for her project, Jeopardy in Community Centers. 

  • Mary Bashaw, May River High School 
  • Clayton Gantt, Thomas Heyward Academy
  • Ellings Hunter, May River High School 
  • Jordan Mikell, Thomas Heyward Academy
  • Tyler Peeples, May River High School 
  • Tess Sanford, Hilton Head Island High School 
  • Danielle Silvan, Hilton Head Island High School

The future is bright, thanks to future leaders like these!

Back to Top

Quick Links

  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Privacy Policy
  • PURPA Compliance

E-NEWS

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay up-to-date with the latest news and deals!

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay up-to-date with latest news and deals!
Service Address
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Mission

To deliver competitively priced, reliable energy and innovative related services to its members and to provide leadership and support to the communities we serve.

Follow Us Online

Translate

©2025 Palmetto Electric Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.

  • My Cooperative
    • Who We Are
    • Welcome
    • Leadership
    • Annual Meeting
    • Annual Report
    • Bylaws
    • Capital Credits
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • My Account
    • Start/Stop Service
    • MyEnergy Online
      • MyEnergy Mobile App
    • Billing and Payment
      • Advance Pay
      • Auto-Pay and Draft
      • e-Billing
      • Levelized Billing
    • Understanding Your Bill
      • Billing FAQs
    • Rates
  • Member Services
    • Programs & Services
      • Beat the Peak
      • Buried Treasure
      • CHAMP
      • Dual Fuel
      • H2O Select
      • Illuma Knight
      • Smart Thermostat Program
      • Surge Guard
    • Renewable Energy
      • Green Power
      • Net Billing
      • Solar
        • Community Solar
    • Energy-Saving Measures
    • Together We Save
    • Choose EV
    • Contractor Specifications
  • In the Community
    • Operation Round Up
    • Co-op Connections
    • Education
      • Scholarships
      • Bright Ideas
      • Youth Tour
    • Environmental Programs
    • Economic Development
    • Affiliations
    • Community Rooms
  • News
    • CEO Letter
    • Press Room
    • Recent News
    • South Carolina Living Magazine
    • Integrated Resource Plan
    • Santee Cooper Settlement
  • Outages & Safety
    • Report a Power Outage
    • PEC Outage Map
    • ECSC Outage Map
    • Restoring Power
    • Safety
      • Play It Safe Kids Zone
      • Storm Safety
      • Everyday Safety
      • Safety Checklist
  • PalmettoLink Fiber