ENERGYUNITED SELECTS REPRESENTATIVES FOR YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS

STATESVILLE, N.C. – EnergyUnited is proud to announce that four high school students have been selected by the co-op to participate in unique leadership opportunities this June: Patrick Oglesby of Huntersville and Madeline Hiteshue of Mooresville will both represent EnergyUnited in Washington D.C. as delegates in the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour program. Additionally, the cooperative has selected Parker Ariail of Cornelius and Shelby Younts of Lexington to represent EnergyUnited in June in the Cooperative Leadership Camp program, organized by the Cooperative Council of North Carolina.

Oglesby, 15, attends the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics (NCSSM). He has received many noteworthy awards, including the Presidential Service Award and Duke Talent Search Award. Oglesby has also served as an academic tutor for students with disabilities and has volunteered with Trees Davidson and with St. Mark Catholic Church.

Hiteshue, 16, is a junior at Pine Lake Preparatory in Mooresville. She is very active in her school and her community as a Junior Ambassador, member of 4 Honors Societies, Crosby Scholar, and Cancer Kids First Ambassador. She currently serves as vice president of the junior class. Hiteshue is also a three sport varsity student-athlete and has served as a captain of the women’s basketball team for the 2021-2022 season.

The two students will join over 1,500 students from across the United States for a one-week, all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. While on the Youth Tour, students will have the opportunity to learn more about electric cooperatives, meet and interact with congressional leaders and visit historic monuments.

“The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour and Cooperative Leadership programs will offer incredible leadership experiences for these students.” said Maureen Moore, communications manager for EnergyUnited. “We are very honored to offer these opportunities for four students who have demonstrated academic excellence and a strong commitment to community service.”

Parker Ariail, a sophomore at William A. Hough High School will participate in Cooperative Leadership Camp this summer at Camp Monroe in Laurel Hill, NC with Shelby Younts, who is sophomore student at Central Davidson High School.

The Cooperative Leadership Camp is a five-day overnight camp that is hosted by the Cooperative Council of North Carolina. The program is an experiential learning process where the teens form a worker/owner tee shirt cooperative, elect a board, hire a general manager, and design, produce and distribute tee shirts. Throughout the week, they learn about leadership, cooperative governance, and the cooperative business principles.

About EnergyUnited
EnergyUnited Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) is the largest electric cooperative in North Carolina serving nearly 135,000 metering points. Headquartered in Statesville, EnergyUnited provides electric service in portions of nineteen counties in west central North Carolina which include Alexander, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stokes, Wilkes and Yadkin. Visit EnergyUnited online at www.energyunited.com to learn more about the cooperative’s community programs and energy service offerings.