Marble Falls student picked for DC tour
Marble Falls High School junior Henry Vanicek is one of 10 Hill Country-area students who will tour Washington, D.C., this summer for the Pedernales Electric Cooperative’s Youth Tour. Courtesy phot
A Marble Falls High School junior is joining nine other Hill Country-area high school students on a trip to Washington, D.C., this summer as part of the Pedernales Electric Cooperative’s Youth Tour.
Junior Henry Vanicek will represent MFHS in the program established by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Youth Tour sends hundreds of high school students each year on an all-expenses paid trip to the nation’s capital to learn about public service and government.
Former President Lyndon B. Johnson developed the tour in 1957. Johnson also played an important role in the formation of PEC, which brought electricity to the Texas Hill Country.
“It’s an honor to provide these bright young students an opportunity to experience government in action,” PEC Community Outreach Specialist Mikayla Herron said in a media release. “We hope the people they meet, the connections they make, and their experiences on this trip can be a stepping stone into leadership and public service roles to enrich our communities and help the Texas Hill Country flourish for years to come.”
PEC chose Vanicek as a delegate after fielding roughly 85 applications.
Other delegates are:
- senior Julio Correa of Lehman High School
- senior Campbell Harkness of Vista Ridge High School
- junior Reagan Hutchinson of Founders Classical Academy of Leander
- junior Nithila Karthik of McNeil High School
- senior Jack McAnelly of Smithson Valley High School
- junior Gigi Muniu of Liberty Hill High School
- senior Carson Reinarz of Canyon Lake High School
- senior Manas Singh of Vista Ridge High School
- junior Audrey Staker of Dripping Springs High School
PEC invites high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to apply for Youth Tour each year. Officials chose delegates after reviewing applicant résumès and their responses to two short-answer questions. Applicants with the highest overall scores on their essays are interviewed before being judged by an independent panel to determine the final delegates.
Visit PEC’s website to learn more about the program.