Youth Tour is an annual, week-long, all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. in June each year. REC annually sponsors three high school juniors from schools within its service territory (valued at $3,500 per student). The Washington Youth Tour is sponsored by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives (OAEC), and 25 of Oklahoma's 27 electric distribution cooperatives. Students travel with the Oklahoma delegation (70 + students) to our nation's capital where they tour historic sites and national landmarks, meet Oklahoma's congressional delegation and much more. Youth Tour has earned a reputation as "a trip of a lifetime" by former participants. In addition to the three finalist selected to attend Youth Tour, another three will be selected to attend Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp near Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
THE CONTEST. The Youth Tour competition consist of writing an original speech of 600 to 800 words on a topic provided by the Cooperative. If selected has one of REC's six finalists, give your original speech during REC's Youth Banquet to determine which trip the finalist will win.
PRESENTATION TOPIC. Explain how the cooperative business model works and how it has shaped electricity for rural communities.
Six finalists will be chosen and will be required to attend REC's Youth Banquet in February. The Youth Tour trip to Washington, D.C. will be mid-June, while Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp will be in mid-July.
HOW TO ENTER
- High School Junior
- Write an original speech (without the use of A.I.) of 600 to 800 words on topic provided.
- Speech must be typed and double-spaced on 8 1/2" X 11" paper
- Complete the entry form.
- No name should appear on the essay, but must be included on the entry form along with school name, teacher's name and contact information.
