Masen Chandler is an aspiring software engineer who enjoyed a week-long experience with state and national government this summer. He was selected to represent Owen Electric Cooperative in the annual Kentucky Electric Cooperative’s Washington Youth Tour.
The path to D.C. began with an essay. Masen, like other hopeful students, wrote about his desire to attend the conference. His essay earned him a spot on a day trip to Frankfort, where he and other students were vetted for the main event. "We visited the state capitol and met with a couple of state representatives," Masen recalled. He explained that active participation was key. "If you participated well in that, like asking questions, paying attention, that kind of thing then you could be selected for the Washington trip," he said. Masen's dedication paid off, as he and two other students from his area were chosen for the trip.
The group of 61 high school seniors traveled via bus to Washington, D.C. Their itinerary was packed with history, from the solemn 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon to the awe-inspiring Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's plantation. They explored countless monuments and some of the vast collections of the Smithsonian museums and even had the opportunity to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
The icing on the cake for Masen, however, was touring the U.S. capitol building and the White House.
“My favorite thing was definitely visiting the capitol building, White House and Washington monument. It was probably my favorite,” he said. In the White House, Masen and his cohorts saw rooms originally meant for foreign ambassadors and an older dining room that was on display.
During their time in the capitol, the teens met with congressional staffers as well as Kentucky’s Sen. Rand Paul.
Masen recalled the students were in a room within the Capitol when Sen. Paul entered. He fielded questions from the group, several of which were related to utility issues and topics affecting rural Kentucky. “I was very surprised that he showed up. I thought it would just be the staffers,” Masen said. “I thought he was very open to questions and he answered every question very articulately.”
While the historical tours were enjoyable, a significant part of the experience focused on the role of electric cooperatives. Masen said he gained a better understanding of their purpose and history. "There wasn’t a lot of profit to be made in privately investing in utilities in rural areas so that’s why cooperatives were formed,” he said. He learned that these organizations are member owned and not for profit, a fact that made him appreciate his own connection to Owen Electric.
The tour also created an unexpected spotlight for 17-year-old Masen. He was one of three students featured on the cover of the recent issue of Kentucky Living magazine following their trip to Washington, D.C. “When we were taking our pictures they did say we would be on the cover of Kentucky Living. I was a bit nervous. I was mainly worried if the suit pieces and the hair would look good. I thought it turned out OK. My mom and dad were super excited,” Masen said with a smile.
Whitney Duvall, spokesperson for Owen Electric, said Masen was selected to represent Owen Electric for his passion for learning, strong leadership, and dedication to his community. “We are proud to see him using what he learned in Washington to help strengthen and improve his community here at home.”
As he wraps up his senior year and pursues his dream of becoming a software engineer, Masen's time in Washington, D.C. stands out as a unique and educational experience. The trip gave him a valuable new perspective on American history and government, and he eagerly recommends the youth tour to any eligible high school student. He's confident that others will find it just as rewarding as he did.
“I had a lot of fun, it was a big learning experience and very educational,” Masen said. “I know when some hear that they might get a little scared and say they don’t want to go to Washington for school purposes, but I think it was really educational in a fun way.”
(Photos Courtesy of Tim Webb.)