Four local high school juniors will serve as representatives for Central Alabama Electric Cooperative (CAEC) as they travel to

Perdue, Gunter, Wendland and Williams will represent CAEC with Johnson serving as first alternate.

Washington, D.C., June 12-18, to participate in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Washington Youth Tour program.

Emma Gunter, Wetumpka High School; Brandon Perdue, Perdue Preparatory School of Business and Law; Dan Wendland, Autauga Academy and Caroline Williams, Autauga Academy; were selected Tuesday, March 17, to serve as the cooperative’s Washington Youth Tour/Youth Leadership Program delegates. They will be representing CAEC among 1,500 high school juniors from cooperatives across the country. Blake Johnson, Prattville Christian Academy, will serve as first alternate in the occurrence any of the delegates cannot fulfill their duties.

Gunter, Perdue, Wendland and Williams will have the unique opportunity to learn more about leadership skills, the growing importance of political action and the cooperative business model while visiting historic sites and government offices.

Gunter is the daughter of Donnie and Margaret Gunter of Wetumpka, Johnson is the son of Ivy Johnson of Prattville, Perdue is the son of Anita and Durwood Perdue of Prattville, Wendland is the son of Andy and Dawn Wendland of Autaugaville, and Williams is the daughter of O.E. and Dolly Williams of Autaugaville.

The four Washington delegates and first alternate also qualified to participate in the Alabama Rural Electric Association’s (AREA) Youth Tour in Montgomery held on March 10-12. Three additional students qualified for the AREA Montgomery Youth Tour: Tatum Connell, Prattville High School; Macie Lee, Autauga Academy and Jaila Rhodes, Autaugaville High School, also participated in the learning and leadership opportunities provided through the program.

The winners were selected based on an application, an interview process and their demonstration of leadership skills.