Electric Cooperative Youth Tour

Each year, Ozarks Electric Cooperative sponsors high school juniors on an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. called Youth Tour. The selected delegates will represent Ozarks Electric as they join more than 1,500 other students from electric cooperatives across the nation for a week-long experience in our nation’s capital. Throughout the week, delegates will have the opportunity to meet members of their state’s congressional delegation, visit historic sites, monuments and museums and learn how electric cooperatives impact our rural communities.

In addition to the all-expenses-paid trip, selected delegates will receive a $500 scholarship from Ozarks Electric. Additional scholarship opportunities are available to Youth Tour delegates from the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas and Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives.

The application requires that each student write an essay on a topic provided by Ozarks Electric and provide at least one letter of recommendation. Essay finalists will be invited to an interview with Ozarks Electric representatives. Selected delegates from Arkansas and Oklahoma will attend the trip, which takes place in June each summer.

2025 Arkansas Youth Tour: Saturday, June 14 – Friday, June 202025 Oklahoma Youth Tour: Friday, June 13 – Thursday, June 19

This contest is open to all current high school juniors attending one of the following schools, as well as homeschoolers residing in those districts.

Cave Springs High School
Don Tyson School of Innovation
Elkins High School
Farmington High School
Fayetteville Christian
Fayetteville High School
Greenland High School
Haas Hall Academy
Har-Ber High School
Huntsville High School

Lincoln High School
Ozark Catholic Academy
Prairie Grove High School
Premier High School - Springdale
Prism Education Center
Saint Paul High School
Shiloh Christian
Springdale High School
Stilwell High School
The New School
Watts High School

West Fork High School
Westville High School

Youth Tour participants standing on the Capitol steps

Youth Tour participants standing in front of the the Iwo Jima Memorial

Youth Tour Application

Applications due March 1, 2025.

First name*

Middle name

Last name*

Preferred Name

Street Address*

City*

State*

Please Specify

Zip*

Student Email Address (accessible during summer break)*

Student's Cell Phone*

School*

Please Specify

If other school, please specify*

GPA*

Are you a current high school junior?*

Yes No

High School Counselor’s Name*

High School Counselor’s Email Address*

Shirt Size*

Please Specify

Parent / Guardian Name(s)*

Parent or Guardian Cell Phone*

Parent or Guardian Email Address #1*

Parent or Guardian Email Address #2

Commitment to Community is one of the seven cooperative principles. How are you involved with your school, family and community? Include activities you participate in, honors or awards you've won, work experience, etc.*

What are your goals and study interests after high school?*

What makes you a good candidate to represent Ozarks Electric on Youth Tour? What do you hope to learn during your Youth Tour experience in Washington, D.C.?*

Recommendation Letter Requests*

One letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor or other community contact is required to complete your application. Recommenders may not be family members. Please enter the name and email address for the recommender(s) you choose below. Your recommender will submit their letter online through a link, which will be sent via email once you submit your application. It is advised that you contact your recommenders to let them know your request is coming and to verify their recommendation is submitted by the deadline.

How did you learn about Youth Tour? *

Please write a 500–700 word essay on the topic provided and upload your document below. Your essay should be formatted using 12-point font (Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri), double-spacing and 1-inch margins on all sides. Essays will be evaluated based on creativity, development of the topic with relevant details, organization and flow of ideas, as well as grammar, usage and mechanics. If applicable, include a works cited section for any references used.*

How does reliable access to energy shape our quality of life?

Please Specify

Essay Upload*

I agree to abide by all rules of the contest and by the decisions rendered by judges at all levels of the competition.*

Yes

Please Specify

I understand that if selected as a Youth Tour delegate, I must be able to attend the trip in its entirety and that no late arrivals or early departures can be accommodated. Arkansas Youth Tour takes place from Saturday, June 14 through Friday, June 20 and Oklahoma Youth Tour takes place from Friday, June 13 through Thursday, June 19.*

Yes

Please Specify

Type your name as you would sign it*

Submit

Ozarks Cares

Ozarks Cares

Electric Cooperative Youth Tour

Youth Tour Application

Power Outages