Youth Tour and Leadership Camp 2020
Applications are now being accepted for the 2020 Youth Tour and Leadership Camp
Deadline to apply is December 13, 2019
Winners will be announced on or after February 3, 2020
Five Winners
- Two winners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. (June 18-25, 2020) plus a $250 college scholarship.
- Two winners will receive a trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to attend Leadership Camp (July 10-16, 2020) plus a $250 college scholarship.
- One winner will be selected as an alternate and receive a $250 college scholarship.
To qualify you must be a high school junior whose parent/guardian receives electricity from Western.
Youth Tour
As many as 1,500 high school students from across the country spend a week in the nation's capital as part of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. The students are sponsored by electric cooperatives – cooperatives that are committed to educating America's rural youth about America and the role electric cooperatives play in developing strong rural communities.
Participating in the Youth Tour is an awesome way to learn about this great nation, develop leadership skills, gain a better understanding of electric cooperatives, and make friendships that will last beyond the week!
Leadership Camp
In 1973, Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., (KEC) Board of Trustees suggested there should be a conference for youth, in addition to the existing Youth Tour program.
In 1976, KEC sent a representative to the camp created by the Colorado Electric Cooperatives to evaluate the camp activities and educational potential. In 1977, KEC sent its first delegates to the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp (then called the Energy Seminar) in Steamboat Springs.
Now, nearly 100 students from Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming attend the leadership camp every year.
2019 Winners
On Sunday, Feb. 3, students participated in Western Cooperative Electric’s annual youth contest for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., or Steamboat Springs, Colorado, plus a scholarship!
The winners were selected by a three-member judging panel based on an interview, a quiz about electric cooperatives, and a one-page essay on the topic “Something I am Passionate About.”
The top five youth in the 2019 contest were Hayden Rogers, Ellsworth High School, son of Clint and Dimity Rogers; Jordyn Coonrod, Ellsworth High School, daughter of Eric and Steph Coonrod; Cora Anderson, Otis-Bison High School, daughter of Eric and Rebecca Anderson; Hayley Keller, Palco High School, daughter of Myron and Rachel Keller; Alyvia Zeigler, Natoma High School daughter of Tracy and Annette Zeigler.
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Hayden Rogers |
Jordyn Coonrod |
Cora Anderson |
Hayley Keller |
Alyvia Zeigler |
Scholarships were awarded along with trips to Washington, D.C., and Steamboat Springs, CO. The contestants chose from the available prizes according to placing.
Hayden Rogers and Jordyn Coonrod joined 1,700 youth from across the nation in Washington, D.C. During the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, students visited their legislators and sites of historical significance.
Cora Anderson and Hayley Keller joined the approximately 100 youth from four states at the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp near Steamboat Springs. At camp, the youth learned more about energy challenges and toured one of the largest electrical generating plants in the Rockies.
Along with the trips, each winner will receive the $250 scholarship, sent directly to the college of their choice upon enrollment. Alyvia Zeigler will receive the $250 Darrell Brown Memorial scholarship and was 2019's first alternate for a trip. Second alternates were R.J. Luea, Makua Lani Christian Academy, son of Ron and Joy Luea, and Hunter Mitchell, Otis Bison High School, son of Robert and Laurie Mitchell.
Congratulations to the 2019 winners, and a big thank you to everyone who participated!