Jackson Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) selected four high school students to receive a scholarship for the cooperative’s Youth Tour competition. 

Joey Blackstock, a junior at Jefferson High School; Sarah Johnson, a junior at Johnson High School; Sanai Neblett, a junior at Dacula High School; and Rajveer Singh, a sophomore at Peachtree Ridge High School, were each chosen to receive a $4,000 scholarship in lieu of the annual Washington Youth Tour, which was canceled due to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Blackstock, son of Jennifer and Joe Blackstock of Jefferson, is a member of the National Honor Society and Beta Club. He is an active member of FFA, winning state and national competitions. He is a member of the Principal’s Leadership Council and has received the 3-D Award (Dedication, Dependability and Diligence) three times. He served on the Mock Trial team and the participated in Georgia Youth Assembly. Blackstock serves on the Athens Chapter of the Watson-Brown Foundation Junior Board, comprised of students interested in historic preservation and philanthropy. He plans to pursue a career as a family nurse practitioner.  

Johnson, daughter of Kim and Brent Johnson of Gainesville, is a member of the National Honor Society and Beta Club. She founded the Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematics Honor Society for her high school. She plays varsity basketball and won the Captain’s Award in 2020. She added varsity softball to her spring schedule this year. She volunteers at the South Hall Food Pantry and BackPack Love. Johnson is planning to pursue a career as a pediatrician and volunteer with Doctors Without Borders.  

Neblett, daughter of Georgia and Andre Neblett of Dacula, is a scholar athlete and violist in the philharmonic orchestra. She is a member of the Dacula Leadership Team, Beta Club, National Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society. She was elected student body president for her senior year after serving as vice president this year. She is a youth leader with Diamond in the Rough, a youth development program for girls, where she participates in weekly mentoring and community service projects. She is a Girl Scout and volunteers with Mending the Gap. Neblett plans to pursue a career in public health as a neurosurgeon.  

Singh, son of Jyotsna and Satvir of Duluth, is on the Ridge Rhetoric Debate Team, Spanish Honors Society and Science Olympiad Team, where he is the logistics director. He won an Innovation in Action award at the 2021 Gwinnett Science & Engineering Fair and will compete at the state level. Singh is a certified community health worker, and a rower with the Atlanta Junior Rowing Association. He plans to pursue a career in public health as a physician. 

High school counselors and teachers in Jackson EMC’s service area were invited to nominate students for the competition, and students could apply directly, as well. Four students were selected based on their academics, community service, oral and written communications skills, letters of recommendation and an interview.  

Since 1965, the Washington Youth Tour has given more than 3,300 Georgia students and more than 53,000 students nationwide the opportunity to participate in this leadership and team-building experience. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NRECA, which organizes the program, canceled the 2021 trip. 

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, the largest electric cooperative in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation, is headquartered 50 miles northeast of Atlanta in Jefferson, Ga. The cooperative serves more than 240,000 meters on 14,000 miles of energized wire. For more information, visit jacksonemc.com.