As summer approaches, I am excited to highlight a special focus for Roanoke Cooperative and Fybe: investing in our youth.
At Roanoke, we believe our young people are not just the future — they are the energy behind the progress we see today. That’s why, alongside our fellow electric cooperatives across North Carolina, we proudly support a range of programs aimed at building leadership, confidence, and opportunity for students in our communities.
Each year, we sponsor youth to attend basketball camps at UNC and NC State University, giving them the chance to sharpen both their athletic and leadership skills. We have also seen tremendous success in selecting students to represent Roanoke Cooperative at two of the nation's premier youth development experiences: the NRECA Rural Electric Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. and the Cooperative Council of the Carolinas’ Cooperative Leadership Camp.
As a former participant of the Cooperative Leadership Camp myself, I know firsthand how these experiences can shape a young person’s future. I’m proud to see us continuing that tradition by empowering new generations with the same opportunities that helped mold my own leadership journey.
Our support doesn't stop there. Through the Bright Ideas Grant Program, we help teachers bring creative classroom projects to life, nurturing curiosity and innovation among students. We also participate in STEM camps, host youth groups, and collaborate with our statewide association to host summer interns — all part of a growing strategy to connect education with real-world career pathways.
All of these initiatives align with a larger goal: strengthening our workforce development pipeline.
Why It Matters to Our Member-Owners
Some may wonder why we invest in these programs. Simply put: a strong future for our youth means a stronger future for all of us.
By preparing young people for careers in energy, broadband, and technology, we are ensuring that Roanoke Cooperative and Fybe have the skilled workforce needed to keep services reliable and affordable for years to come.
When we help students connect to opportunity here at home, we are also working to keep talent in our region, support local economic growth, and build the kind of communities where families want to stay, work, and thrive.
We are also preparing for a digital future. As we build out our broadband network through Fybe, we are developing a base of digital navigators — individuals trained to help our member-owners maximize the full potential of high-speed internet across our service territory. Our youth are key to this movement. We need their ideas, energy, and talents to shape the digital future of our communities.
The energy landscape is evolving as well. A future driven by clean energy and expanded broadband access presents unprecedented opportunities for growth. By investing in our youth today, we are not only preparing them for new career pathways — we are positioning our region for long-term prosperity and retaining the talented young leaders who will drive that progress forward.
This summer and beyond, you’ll hear more stories about the incredible young people connected to Roanoke Cooperative and Fybe. Their journeys inspire us — and remind us that when we invest in youth, we invest in the future of our communities.
Let’s continue to power progress together.
In service,
Marshall Cherry
President & CEO