REDMOND, OR -- Three Central Oregon teens will soon head to Washington, D.C. as part of a national youth tour. The high school students each earned a spot on the tour as part of a Central Electric Cooperative competition. Courtney Linville, CECO's regional spokesperson, says the co-op expanded the local contest this year due to the entries.

"We have some great finalists," Linville says. "It was really tough. We had originally intended to just send two students, but the caliber of the applicants was just so impressive that the board decided to send three."

Erin Bush from Crook County High School, Alena Nore from Sisters High School and Lillie Spackman from Bend Senior High all won spots on the tour. They will head to the nation's capital in June, meeting up with other high school students from across the nation to tour utilities, cooperatives and national monuments.

Linville says the students will also be introduced to lawmakers.

"They'll have a chance to talk to our senators and representatives," Linville says. "It's really an intensive tour for one week."  

This is the first rural Central Electric youth tour offered since 1992.

All photos from Central Electric Cooperative, LLC