Horton High School student Ariel Kinnear toured the nation’s capital as 1 of 100 students fromacross the United States for the Foundation for Rural Service Youth Tour, June 1-5, 2013.

Students had the opportunity to experience an inside look at the telecommunications industry and were educated about the legislative and governmental process.

“We went to educational sessions while in D.C., one of them being at the Federal Communications Commission. This one was by far the most interesting to me. The FCC regulates communication by radio, TV, wire, satellite and cable. We were fortunate to hear two of the commissioners speak. Ajit Pai from Kansas and Mignon Clyburn from South Carolina talked to us about their jobs and how the FCC is organized,” said Kinnear. “While on the trip I had the opportunity to make friendships that will last a lifetime. I met so many great people and learned a lot about our nation’s history as well as the FCC. This trip was an amazing experience and I would like to thank Rainbow Communications and the Foundation for Rural Service for making it possible for me.”

Kinnear was chosen from a group of local high school applicants. Rainbow Communications sponsors the trip for one student each year. Applications are made available to all area high schools within the Rainbow Communications service area. Applicants must be 16 or 17 years old at the time of the Tour and parents or guardians a Rainbow Communications’ customer.

 For information about the 2014 Tour, contact Stacy Simmer, 800-892-0163. Applications can be found on our website at www.rainbowtel.net and are due April 1, 2104.