From left, Sadie Jane Sills, Wyatt Rudeseal, and McCaa Stapleton will represent Habersham EMC on the 2026 Washington Youth Tour in Washington D.C.
McCaa Stapleton of Clarkesville, Sadie Jane Sills of Cleveland, and Wyatt Rudeseal of Toccoa have been selected to attend the annual Washington Youth Tour, a once in a lifetime leadership experience made possible through the generosity of the electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) in Georgia, including Habersham EMC. Stapleton is a junior at Rabun Gap, Sills is a junior at White County High School, and Rudeseal is a junior at Habersham Central High School.
The Washington Youth Tour was established to inspire the next generation of leaders. This year’s tour, which takes place June 12-19, will expose students to the fast-paced world of politics and leadership.
Former delegates and participating EMCs agree the Youth Tour has grown into an invaluable program that gives young adults an experience that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Student Delegates will explore government on a local and national level, gathering in Atlanta before departing for Washington, D.C. While visiting our nation’s capital the delegates will have the opportunity to meet with their elected officials to discuss and learn about issues that are important to Georgia.
The Georgia delegation will join more than 1,700 additional youth representing cooperatives across the nation. The students will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and views about local and national issues with peers from other states.
“This trip really changed my perspective on friendship, history, leadership, and the American government,” said Madison Garrett, 2025 delegate. “I feel that I am a better young adult because of it.”
Since 1965, the Washington Youth Tour has given more than 3,000 students from Georgia and more than 50,000 nationwide the opportunity to take part in this unique experience. President Lyndon Johnson initially requested the program to “send youngsters to the nation’s capital where they can actually see what the flag stands for and represents.”
For more information visit habershamemc.com or call (706) 754-2114, (706) 865-4362 or (800) 640-6812.
Habersham Electric Membership Corporation (HEMC) was chartered on July 25, 1938, as a non-profit cooperative. Today, there are over 3,900 miles of line serving more than 28,000 members in six counties in Georgia: Habersham, Hall, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, and White. HEMC’s main office is located at 6135 State Hwy. 115 West, Clarkesville, GA. A branch office is located on Hwy. 129 South, in Cleveland, Ga. Habersham EMC also owns a broadband subsidiary, Trailwave Fiber, Inc., which provides northeast Georgia’s most reliable internet service and is the only 100% fiber optic network in the area.