Crosby Parker, a junior at Gulfport High School and a Cooperative Youth Leaders representative for Coast Electric, joined 84 high school juniors representing electric cooperatives across the state in Jackson, Miss., for the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Cooperative Youth Leaders Workshop. The program instills leadership skills, inspires creative thinking, encourages community service and introduces students to elected officials from their communities.

Parker earned a spot in the workshop following a competitive selection process through Coast Electric. While in Jackson, he competed with other top students from across the state to win a spot on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Youth Leadership Council (YLC). Following a speech and interview with a panel of judges, Parker was selected as the 2025 – 2026 YLC representative for Mississippi. Parker will represent the state on the YLC from June 1, 2025, – May 31, 2026, with 43 students from across the nation.

“We are incredibly proud of Crosby Parker and his accomplishment,” said Coast Electric President and CEO Ron Barnes. “His commitment to excellence, leadership and community are reflected by this well-earned recognition. We are confident that he will be a great representative for our community and for the state of Mississippi.”

Parker will receive a $1,000 scholarship and will attend a summer program in Washington, D.C. He will speak at the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Annual Meeting in Biloxi and at an NRECA conference in Nashville, Tenn. He will also meet with his fellow YLC representatives monthly via Zoom and will plan and implement a service project during Cooperative Month in October 2025.

For more information about the Cooperative Youth Leaders program, visit https://www.ecm.coop/cooperative-difference/cooperative-youth-leaders-program/.