A senior from Alleghany High School spoke to 6,000 key staff and directors from the nation’s cooperative electric utilities during their annual membership meeting for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in Atlanta.

Blue Ridge Electric’ spokesperson Renee Whitener said Jacob Brooks addressed the audience about the importance of life experiences.  Brooks shared the stage with actor Ed Asner, TV host John Walsh, and former White House official David Gergin.

Whitener said BREMCO selected Brooks last year as one of the co-op’s Youth Tourists to attend an educational trip with other young people across the nation to Washington, DC to learn about cooperative business principles along with the nation’s government and history.

Brooks wowed officials and was selected for several national honors, including being invited as a regular columnist for the North Carolina electric cooperative’s statewide magazine, Carolina Country.

*Photo courtesy of BREMCO