A Carmel High School student will represent Indiana on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Leadership Council after being selected from among 60 student delegates who participated in the Indiana Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C.
Atharva Sahu, who was sponsored by Boone Power for the annual Youth Tour, earned the opportunity through a competitive selection process that included delivering a speech on an important event in American history and participating in an interview with a panel of cooperative employees.
As Indiana’s Youth Leadership Council delegate, Sahu will take part in a year-long leadership development program beginning with leadership and public speaking training in Washington, D.C., in July. He will also complete a community service project this fall, speak at the Indiana Electric Cooperatives’ Annual Meeting in December, and represent Indiana at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Annual Meeting in San Diego in February 2027.
During the national meeting, Sahu will assist with event operations, participate in the opening assembly and Parade of States, and help staff the Congressional Action Center.
A student leader at Carmel High School, Sahu serves as vice president of competition for the school’s DECA chapter and founded the school’s first Research Club to create additional opportunities for students interested in scientific research. He has earned state and national recognition in DECA, Mock Trial and science competitions.
Sahu has also demonstrated a strong commitment to community service. Among his accomplishments is organizing a mental health fundraising campaign that raised $30,000 for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
“Boone Power is incredibly proud of Atharva and this well-deserved achievement,” said Bill Conley, president and CEO of Boone Power. “He has demonstrated exceptional leadership, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to serving others. We are excited to see him represent Boone Power and Indiana’s electric cooperatives as our state’s Youth Leadership Council delegate and know he will be an outstanding ambassador for Indiana.”
Sahu is the son of Chandrashekhar and Shweta Sahu of Carmel and will be a senior at Carmel High School during the upcoming school year.
The Indiana Electric Cooperative Youth Tour gives high school students an opportunity to learn about government, leadership and the electric cooperative industry while visiting the nation’s capital. The Youth Leadership Council program extends that experience by providing additional leadership training and opportunities to represent electric cooperatives at the state and national levels.