MTE Sponsors Rutherford Co. Students at Youth Leadership Summit

La Vergne High School student Catalina Ortiz and Rutherford County home school student Jack Sohar were in Nashville March 13-15 for the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association’s annual Youth Leadership Summit. The juniors were chosen and sponsored by Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE).

While in Nashville, delegates visited the State Capitol Building where they were welcomed by Secretary of State Tre Hargett and members of the Tennessee General Assembly. Summit attendees held a mock legislative session in the Senate Chambers, debating and voting on a bill they developed. In addition to lawmakers, students heard from leaders like Miss Tennessee’s Outstanding Teen, Jane Marie Franks and trooper Shane Moore and K-9 Officer Sumo with the Tennessee Executive Protection Detail. Ortiz and Sohar were able to meet one-on-one with Sen. Dawn White.

The Youth Leadership Summit also included a day of leadership training at the Joe C. Davis YMCA Outdoor Center and a behind-the-scenes tour of Bridgestone Arena prior to a Nashville Predators game.

Delegates to the Youth Leadership Summit are encouraged to be leaders in their hometowns and use their talents to improve rural Tennessee. “The Youth Leadership Summit gives the brightest students in rural and suburban Tennessee the opportunity to expand their leadership skills,” says Todd Blocker, Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association vice president of member relations and director of the Youth Leadership Summit. “These young people will be the next generation of leaders in Tennessee, and I commend electric co-ops for supporting this effort to prepare young people for the future.”

“It’s important to support students who will be future leaders in our communities, and Middle Tennessee Electric is proud to do that through programs like the Youth Leadership Summit,” said Jay Sanders, MTE community relations coordinator.