From Elmira to D.C. and Back Again: Youth Tour Creates a Lifelong Co-op Advocate

When Alex Mason boarded a plane to Washington, D.C. in 2016 as a home-schooled high school junior, he couldn’t have imagined how much the trip would shape his future. Representing Great Lakes Energy (GLE) as a student delegate on the NRECA Youth Tour, the high schooler from rural Elmira, Michigan, was stepping into a world far beyond what he knew—both literally and figuratively.

“Up to that point, the furthest I’d ever traveled was rural Wisconsin to visit family,” Mason said. “Youth Tour offered me an opportunity to visit a city steeped in American history and realize that we’re all part of this nation—that we can make a positive impact on it.”

What started as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity quickly turned into something bigger. Youth Tour planted a seed. It opened his eyes not just to American history, but to the cooperative model—and the idea that you don’t have to live in a big city to do something meaningful.

Fast-forward to 2025, and Alex is back on Youth Tour—but this time, as a chaperone. Now an IT professional at Great Lakes Energy, he jumped at the chance to return to D.C. with a new generation of students.

“I always thought it would be cool to give back to the program in some way, but I never knew how,” he said. “This year, my co-worker Whitney (Gilland) mentioned they were looking for chaperones, and I was excited for the opportunity to help new delegates have a trip as great as mine.”

Alex didn’t just show up—he showed up with a unique perspective. “As a student I didn’t know how much went on behind the scenes. I was impressed by how much time, thought, and effort goes into planning the trip,” he said. “We had a few curveballs along the way, but Katie Deller (Michigan Youth Tour Director) and Dawn Coon (Assistant Director) had backup plans for their backup plans. Total pros.”

One of Alex’s favorite parts of the trip? Watching the delegates discover their independence. “We had a great group. Watching the student delegates step out of their comfort zones, make friends, and figure things out on their own—it reminded me exactly why this program matters.”

Looking back, Alex says Youth Tour didn’t just give him memories—it gave him direction. “I always had my eye on co-ops after that trip. When a job opened at Great Lakes Energy, I knew I wanted in. The co-op model just makes sense—it’s mission-driven, community-focused, and it’s a place where you’re encouraged to keep learning.”Learning and growing are monumental parts of Youth Tour. It stretches what participants think they know about their country, their communities, and themselves.

“What I really took away from the experience was that we have the ability to do great things if we step up and make it happen,” said Mason.

With dedicated leaders like Alex Mason, along with passionate chaperones and planners who continue to “step up” for the young people in their communities, Youth Tour will keep inspiring future generations to do great things—just as it did for him.