Government-in-Action Youth Tour will take students to historic landmarks and the U.S. Capitol

A student passionate about civic engagement, an award-winning FFA member, and a committed leader and athlete will represent Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative this summer in Washington, D.C.  Zoe Moreno, a senior at Bastrop High School; Ruby Meachen, a senior at Giddings High School; and McKenzie Tiemann, a junior at Brenham High School, were selected for the Government-in-Action Youth Tour, an all-expenses-paid trip that will take them to historic landmarks and the U.S. Capitol. 

The tour, June 15-23, will also include meetings with members of Congress and events hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. In addition to the trip, each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Alternate representative Avila Colanter will join the tour if one of the winners is unable to attend. Colanter will also receive a $1,000 scholarship.

The recipients were selected in March from applicants across the cooperative’s service area. 

Moreno, 18, of Bastrop, has shown a strong commitment to civic involvement. She is the president and founder of Bastrop Youth and Government, which is part of the national Youth and Government program through the YMCA. Students in this program engage in government and the legislative process through internships, shadowing experiences and leadership roles. When Moreno transferred to Bastrop High School in her junior year, she saw an opportunity to bring Youth and Government to her school and founded the club. In just a year, the group grew to over 50 members. Moreno has worked as a clerk at the Bastrop Public Library since May 2024 and has been an umpire for the Bastrop Little League for two years. 

She plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin to prepare for a career in environmental law. "I like using my voice for a good thing and advocating for change in the world," she said.

Representing Bluebonnet and its members during the Youth Tour is an honor Moreno takes seriously. "I feel like I can bring back new ideas and perspectives to my community and make a positive impact," she said.    

Meachen, 18, of Giddings, is president of both the Giddings FFA chapter and Serbin 4-H, where she has excelled in everything from cake-decorating competitions to service projects. She earned one of FFA’s highest honors, the Lone Star Degree, awarded to members who demonstrate leadership, complete at least two years of agricultural education and invest time and money in a supervised agricultural experience. She is also active in Student Council, Interact Club and the Leo Club at Giddings High School.

After graduation, Meachen plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin with the goal of one day becoming an anesthesiologist. Meachen experienced a heart issue as a baby, and that experience has given her a deep appreciation for the medical field. “I’ve had a strong drive for this field since I was young, and I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without the medical professionals who’ve helped me,” she said. 

The Government-in-Action Youth Tour offers students an immersive experience in learning how the nation is governed, an exciting prospect for Meachen. “I’m taking a government class at Blinn College, and think it would be cool to apply what I’ve learned in the real world,” she said.

Tiemann, 17, of Brenham, holds leadership positions in Brenham FFA, Burton 4-H and Washington County 4-H. When she's not showing steers or heifers, she's playing second and third base as a three-year varsity softball player for Brenham High School. Tiemann participates in several school organizations, including the Anchor Club, Student Council and National Honor Society.

Inspired by a recent tour of the school’s Department of Animal Science, Tiemann plans to attend Texas A&M University. She hasn’t decided on an area of study, but is considering coursework in business and accounting.

Tiemann said she’s looking forward to seeing the sights in our nation’s capital and the connections she’ll make during the Youth Tour. “A close friend went on the tour last year and told me I’d have an amazing time meeting new people. She’s still best friends with her Youth Tour roommates,” she said.

Colanter, 18, of Brenham, competes in both cross-country and track. She holds leadership roles in the Washington County 4-H Horse Club and the Texas Youth 4-H Equine Ambassadors Program. She is also active in Mustangs4Life, a chapter of Y4Life, which is a national program focused on equipping individuals to be voices for life-affirming causes. She volunteers with the Cubs2Read tutoring program through Brenham ISD and is a member of the Brenham FFA chapter and the Anchor Club of Brenham. 

In the fall, Colanter plans to attend Texas A&M University to study agricultural business. She is also interested in nutrition and communications courses.

Youth Tour applicants were evaluated based on their school accomplishments, extracurricular activities and community service. They also submitted a video answering the question, “Why do you think you would be an ideal candidate to represent your cooperative in Washington, D.C.?”

This is the 59th year for the Youth Tour program. It has more than 50,000 alumni, including participants who have gone on to become CEOs, state and national elected officials, and business and community leaders.

Want to visit Washington, D.C.?
Learn more about the Youth Tour

The Government-In-Action Youth Tour is an all-expenses-paid, weeklong adventure valued at more than $4,500 for high school students whose families are members of electric cooperatives. Students selected for the annual summer trip travel from Texas to Washington, D.C., to explore some of the country’s most famous landmarks, and learn about government, history and the role of electric cooperatives.

During the trip, participants will visit sites like the National Museum of American History, Mount Vernon and Arlington National Cemetery, where they take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Along the way, students explore the U.S. Capitol, the White House and several Smithsonian museums as well as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and the Holocaust Memorial Museum. They also enjoy unique experiences including a Potomac River boat cruise. Throughout the week, students learn about American history, leadership and civic engagement while making lasting memories with peers from across the state.

Interested in a trip to Washington, D.C.?

The tour is an unforgettable opportunity for a high-school student from the Bluebonnet service area to experience Washington, D.C. and gain leadership skills that will last a lifetime. If your student would like to attend the Youth Tour in 2026, keep an eye out in November for applications online at bluebonnet.coop/scholarships. Applications for the next tour are due in January 2026.

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative's five member service centers in Bastrop, Brenham, Giddings, Lockhart and Manor will shine blue at night throughout April to raise awareness of National Child Abuse Prevention Month and the region’s organizations that support families affected by abuse and neglect. 

In the Bluebonnet area, six Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) programs cover all 14 counties where the cooperative provides electricity. 

Other organizations in the Bluebonnet region that support cooperative members and their families include the Children’s Advocacy Center, which serves Bastrop, Lee and Fayette counties and offers care, support and services to children who have been abused or neglected; and SAFE Alliance, a nonprofit which operates in eastern Travis County and supports children, adults and families who have been affected by abuse or neglect. These local organizations welcome adult volunteers and donations.

If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, call the Texas Abuse Hotline at 800-252-5400, or submit a report online at txabusehotline.org. In case of immediate danger to a child, call 911 to contact local law enforcement.

About the region’s abuse assistance agencies

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Bastrop, Lee and Fayette counties supports children by providing specially trained community volunteers appointed by juvenile and family court judges to represent the interests of children who enter state custody after being removed from their families by Child Protective Services.

507 Water St., Bastrop 

Open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

512-303-2272 

On the web: casabfl.org

Email kristi.bauer@casabfl.org

Children’s Advocacy Center

Children’s Advocacy Center, serving Bastrop, Lee and Fayette counties, provides a safe, child-friendly environment where law enforcement, child protective services, court prosecution, and medical and mental health professionals can share information and develop strategies to meet the needs of each case and child.

59 TX 150 Loop, Bastrop

Open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

512-321-6161

On the web: childrensadvocacycenter.org

Email info@CACBastrop.org

CASA for Kids of South Central Texas

CASA for Kids of South Central Texas, serving Austin, Colorado, Waller and Washington counties, supports children by providing specially trained community volunteers appointed by juvenile and family court judges to represent the interests of children who enter state custody after being removed from their families by Child Protective Services.

1500 S. Day St., Brenham

Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday

979-277-0088

On the web: wespeak4kids.org

Email info@wespeak4kids.org

CASA of Central Texas, Inc.

CASA of Central Texas, Inc., serving Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays counties, supports children by providing specially trained community volunteers  appointed by juvenile and family court judges to represent the interests of children who enter state custody after being removed from their families by Child Protective Services.

2725 Hunter Road, San Marcos 

Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

Phone: 830-626-2272

On the web: casacentex.org

Email info@casacentex.org 

The SAFE Alliance

The SAFE Alliance provides housing, support services and prevention programs to stop the cycle of violence in Central Texas

Children’s Shelter

P.O. Box 19454

Austin, TX 78760

Administrative office open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 

Phone: 512-369-5900

Reach the 24/7 SAFEline at 512-267-SAFE (7233), text “SAFE” to 737-888-7233 or chat online at safeaustin.org

On the web: safeaustin.org

All day, every day, skilled operators watch Bluebonnet’s electric system to locate outages, coordinate crews and keep the lights on.

By Alyssa Meinke

When a storm rolls in, a vehicle hits a power pole or an animal touches the wrong piece of equipment, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s control center is the first to respond. A team of 10 control center operators work in shifts to monitor Bluebonnet's electric grid. When an outage occurs, the operators dispatch lineworkers to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

POWER ON: Stories of outages, response and restoration — and communication every step of the way

These operators are the unseen first responders of Bluebonnet’s electric grid that keep power flowing to more than 138,000 homes, businesses and critical facilities. They are the vanguard of a team that works to keep members’ lights on 99.93% of the time, on average.

The process is complex and constant, requiring continuous reprioritization. “It’s like running a busy restaurant kitchen during a dinner rush — serving multiple dishes at once while new orders keep coming in,” said Bryn Janca, a control center operator at Bluebonnet for five years.

In addition to tracking and prioritizing outages — whether they impact a single member or thousands — and dispatching Bluebonnet and contractor crews to restore power, the operators use advanced technology to monitor and troubleshoot the entire electric system. They coordinate planned work requests and track the location and status of crews. They keep a close watch on weather conditions. They communicate regularly with member services and other departments to provide status reports to members.

The process has come a long way since Greg Roeber, Bluebonnet’s control center manager, started dispatching crews in 1995. Back then, the control center had one computer. “We used the computer to print outage reports and stacked them on a desk, prioritizing them by height — based on the number of pages,” Roeber said.

Now, operators use advanced software to detect outages, pinpoint issues on power lines and, when possible, reroute power to minimize disruptions. “We’re a support system,” he said. Roeber began working at Bluebonnet in 1982 as a lineworker before transitioning to the control center in 1995. He became its superintendent in 2005, then manager of the control center in 2017. After more than 40 years of service, he plans to retire in July.

“One of the things I’m most proud of is seeing how our team has grown,” Roeber said. “Training a new employee that doesn’t have a lot of electrical experience and watching him connect the dots as he becomes a knowledgeable and thoughtful operator is one of the most fulfilling aspects of the job.”

The operators come from various educational and military backgrounds, contributing diverse strengths to the team.

“The best trait of an operator is being self-motivated and having the ability to learn,” Roeber said. When there is downtime, the team runs drills to ensure they are prepared for any situation.

“We want everyone to learn,” Roeber explained. “We take a look at what we can improve and how we can operate differently to get better.”

Despite all the technological advancements, the heart of the control center is the people. Operators ensure lineworkers are safe in the field, relay information to update members on the status of their outage and respond to emergency calls.

Communication is key to a smooth response to outages. Operators constantly relay information to and from the field, with 350 to 400 messages by phone, radio and text coming in and going out on a typical day. “As soon as we get any relevant information, we relay it – whether it’s from the members, our guys in the field or other operators,” Janca said.

“It’s like community service,” said Max Baird, a control center operator with 11 years of experience. “Serving the community while supporting our families is rewarding.”

“We don’t like to see our members out of power for any reason,” Janca said. Baird agrees: “We’re a team. We’re here for our members.”

There is one piece of advice operators want to give to members: Keep your contact information updated. “It helps us find you in the event of an outage, dispatch crews and get your power back on faster,” Janca said. “Leave detailed and clear messages when you call to report an issue. We’re always listening,” Baird said.