2023 Youth Tour Delegates Named

Wharton County Electric Cooperative is pleased to announce that our 2023 Government-in-Action Youth Tour Delegates are Bridget Dorotik and Zoe Schulz.

Bridget is a senior at El Campo High School and is the daughter of Brian and Denise Dorotik of El Campo (District 5). Zoe is a sophomore at El Campo High School and is the daughter of Shelly Schulz of El Campo (District 4) and the late Jeff Schulz.

Both Bridget and Zoe are members of Future Farmers of America, Anchor Club, Interact Club, and Workforce Industry Training.

Bridget also plays varsity softball earning Academic All-District three times. She is also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and National Honor Society and is a Junior Chamber Ambassador. In her free time, she volunteers with The Challenger League helping special needs children play baseball. She also travels to compete with a select softball team, “Texas Bombers Jacoby.”

Zoe is also a member of the STARS Club and has competed in debate. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her mom, reading, playing video games with friends, and being outdoors either hiking or fishing.

“We are so happy to bring the Government-in-Action Youth Tour back to the youth of WCEC,” WCEC’s CEO/GM Gary Raybon says. “COVID-19 put a hold on the trip for us over the past three years. It’s exciting to once again send two delegates on the ‘Trip of a Lifetime!’”

WCEC holds an essay (or video) contest to determine the delegates for the Youth Tour each year. During the hiatus due to COVID-19, scholarships were awarded in lieu of the trip. This year’s topic asked applicants, “If you had the opportunity to change one thing about your school or community, what would it be and why?”

Bridget’s essay proposed creating a new school club called “Connect” with no membership dues to encourage everyone to join. She writes, “This club would improve my school by having more members and involvement...bringing every student together.”

Zoe’s essay focused on helping Texas’ electrical grid by proposing the installation of rooftop solar panels at her school. She writes, “Lowering our energy usage could, in a small way, help reduce the strain on the power grid and...help prepare the grid for future misfortunes.”

Both essays along with past winners can be read in full at MyWCEC.coop/YouthTour.

The Government-in-Action Youth Tour is a youth leadership program sponsored by Wharton County Electric Cooperative and organized by Texas Electric Cooperatives and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The trip allows young adults the opportunity to tour national historic sites, experience cultural diversity, visit U.S. congressional offices, and learn about electric cooperatives and the energy industry.

Bridget and Zoe will join over 1,500 youth delegates from electric cooperatives across the nation for the trip in June. For more information about Youth Tour, please contact Brenda Moreno at (979) 543-6271 or visit MyWCEC.coop/YouthTour.