A Wadesboro teenager returned last week from a trip touring the nation’s capital, visiting national landmarks and meeting with state representatives.

Christopher Wayne Kelly, 17, was chosen to be the sole junior representing Anson County as a Rural Electric Youth Tourist. Only 39 students from North Carolina were chosen.

Kelly said that he was one of five juniors from Anson County New Technology High School to be chosen to apply. He filled out the application, wrote an essay and completed an interview before learning that he was selected.

“They asked me how I do in school, what I want to be when I graduate, stuff like that,” Kelly said.

Kelly was chosen to join the group, which toured Washington, D.C. The teens first went to the Hilton in Raleigh, where they participated in activities and had dinner. The next morning, the group filed onto a bus and went to the city, where the teens visited museums, a cruise ship, memorials and more.

Kelly’s group met several North Carolina representatives, including Rep. Patrick McHenry, Rep. G.K. Butterfield, Rep. Walter Jones, Rep. Virginia Foxx and Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis.

This is the second time the teen has been to D.C.

“Of course I was happy,” he said. “I was excited. I’d been to D.C. once before, but it was only for one weekend, so there wasn’t much time to look around. So a whole week was a lot better. It was a tough week, I’ll give you that. We were walking around all day, every day.”

His favorite part the trip was the visit to Arlington National Cemetery.

Kelly said he was happy to be chosen for the experience.

“I was excited,” he said. “I want to work in politics when I get older, so it was a big opportunity.”

He hopes to be a town manager one day, and said he has talked to Wadesboro Town Manager Alex Sewell about the possibility of doing a job shadow or internship.

The Washington Youth Tour was sponsored by Pee Dee Electric and the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association.

Kelly is an “outstanding” student, according to a press release from Pee Dee Electric.

“He has maintained the status of ‘Leader of the Pack’ since his freshman year and has managed to find time to complete additional online classes and certifications to help enhance his knowledge and confidence,” the company said in its release. Pee Dee said that about 1,600 from across the country participate in the program.

Kelly will be a senior at Anson New Tech this fall, and had some wisdom for students behind him.

“I’ll say to any future juniors in Anson County that it’s a great trip to look at and they should definitely try to have the opportunity, because it’s given to juniors from Anson County schools,” Kelly said.

Reach reporter Imari Scarbrough at 704-994-5471 and follow her on Twitter @ImariScarbrough.

Kelly
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_Christopher-Kelly-Pee-Dee-youth-tourist-fz.jpgKelly

Contributed photo Kelly and group tour Washington, D.C., visiting local attractions.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_Chris-Kelly-DC-trip-1-fz.jpegContributed photo Kelly and group tour Washington, D.C., visiting local attractions.

Contributed photo Kelly, center, and other students tour Washington, D.C.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_Chris-Kelly-DC-trip-2-fz.jpegContributed photo Kelly, center, and other students tour Washington, D.C.

By Imari Scarbrough

iscarbrough@civitasmedia.com