This summer was a time that HHS senior Andrew Morris will not forget.
He was one of six students selected to be delegates from East Central Electric Cooperative for the annual Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. That trip started June 14 from Tulsa and ended June 20.
It marked several “firsts” for the always smiling but quiet son of Summer Morris. It was his first trip by air, his first visit to Washington, D.C. and his first time to travel without family members.
“I had a great time. It was fun,” he said once he settled back into home life.
The East Central delegation was with 74 other high school students selected from across the state for the whirlwind sightseeing journey. He was selected based on an essay written describing the difference between the member-owned electric cooperatives and investor-owned electric companies.
Once the young delegates arrived in Washington, their time was filled with activities. Starting at 6 in the morning with a breakfast, the group went all around the area until late at night. All of the monuments and memorials including Lincoln, Washington, Korean War and Vietnam, were seen, visited and touched. Standing out in Morris’ mind was the trip to the Lincoln Memorial. The imposing structure with the larger-than-life stature of Abraham Lincoln made a lasting impression. “It was amazing,” he said.
Included on the itinerary was a tour of the White House and Capitol with a meeting of several members of the Congressional and Senate delegation from Oklahoma. Congressman Markwayne Mullin and his staff took Morris and the rest of the Oklahoma teens on a private tour of the Capitol building. “That was something to see,” Morris said.
No trip would be complete without souvenirs and Morris holds up a pair of coffee mugs for grandpa Rick and grandmother Laura, each bearing the image of the Capitol. He also bought a flag-draped baseball for his cousin. His prized souvenir is a t-shirt from the Hard Rock Cafe.
As busy as the week was, Morris said he would not have passed up the opportunity for anything. “I’m glad I was selected and I would urge everyone to make the trip to Washington. It’s a place full of things to see and do.”
With only a year of high school left, Morris is looking ahead to the day when he starts classes at OSUIT. “I want to get the basics for architecture and drafting.”
Making the trip with him from East Central were Morgan Cross, Abbie Long, Luke Miller, Gage Allen and Lynzee Crawley.
