OTECC - Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative

2013 Rural Electric Youth Tour

OTEC seeks student applicants for one-week Youth Tour to Washington DC

OTEC announced today that it seeks applicants for a one-week, all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the 2013 Rural Electric Youth Tour. The trip will be from June 13 - June 20.

Students who attend the Youth Tour will join 1,500 high school students from across the U.S. to learn about electric cooperatives, American history and the U.S. government.
Students also visit the historic sights of the nation?s capital, as well as spend time with their congressional delegations on Capitol Hill.
Youth Tour winners will create podcasts and digital photo projects while learning about issues in renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate change legislation that face their communities and the nation.
This opportunity is an excellent way for students to boost their college applications.

The deadline to apply is January 18, 2013. All applications must be RECEIVED on or before that date. Any applications received after that date will be disqualified.

Applicants must currently be high school juniors living in a home served by OTEC. For details on the Youth Tour and what you can expect, visit www.youthtour.coop. For more information, contact OTEC at youthtour@otecc.com. To download an application, go to www.otecc.com.

DC Youth Tour Application
Consent and Release Forms

News Release: OTEC announces winners of 2012 Washington DC Youth Tour

4 local high school juniors have been selected by Oregon Trail Electric to attend the 2012 Rural Electric Youth Tour in Washington D.C. this June:

Bradley Wade Cates of Mt. Vernon in Grant County

Bradley is active with the Grant County Safe Communities Youth Coalition and Student Council, where he has held various offices. In addition to track and field, volleyball and Art Club, he also enjoys hunting, fishing and community service. After graduation, he hopes to attend Eastern Oregon University and study education. Eventually, he would like to teach high school.

Abigail Harris of La Grande in Union County

Abigail is a member of the National Honor Society and is active in cross country, track and field and choir. She enjoys painting, playing the piano and public speaking. Though she hasn’t chosen a particular university, she wants to eventually receive a degree in nursing.

Jessilyn Sayers of Baker City in Baker County

Jessilyn, a National Honor Society member, has served as freshman and sophomore class president, and is active in FBLA where she has held various offices. She has volunteered over 500 hours to Young Life, a Christian Youth Ministry. Jessilyn wants to attend Oregon State University where she will major in Renewable Materials.

Jake White of Hines in Harney County

Jake is very active in the Future Farmers of America chapter at Burns High School, is a National Honor Society Member, is wrestling team captain, plays football and was designated a 2011 OSAA Dairy Farmers of Oregon Academic All State Athlete. When Jake graduates, he plans on majoring in Business Education or Psychology.

All four students will represent OTEC as they join nearly 1,500 students from across the United States for a one-week all-expenses paid trip to the nation’s capital.

Over the course of the Tour week, the students, traveling with student delegations from throughout the Pacific Northwest, will visit some of the world’s most famous historical sites and spend time on Capitol Hill with congressional leaders. Students will create podcasts and digital photo projects as they learn about electric cooperatives and current issues in energy and climate change legislation that face their communities and the nation.

Applicants must currently be high school juniors in Baker, Grant, Harney and Union counties living in a home served by OTEC. For exciting details on the Youth Tour and what you attendees can expect, visit www.youthtour.coop.

For more information, email youthtour@otecc.com.

OTEC began sponsoring the NRECA Youth Tour in 2007 and each year sends 4 high school students who are between their Junior and Senior year to Washington, D.C. to experience this great opportunity ever since. OTEC selects one student from each of its four districts through a competitive application process.

The NRECA Youth Tour has brought high school students to Washington, D.C. every June since the late 1950's and has seen over 40,000 students from rural areas and small towns across America participate.

From OTEC-Radio: Listen to past Youth Tour participants recount their experiences (Show dates: June 29, 2009; February 19, 2009).

From OTEC-TV: Watch these videos about OTEC's Youth Tour program.

2010 Annual Meeting Speech, May 15th in La Grande, Oregon

Part 1 - Featuring Irene Ribeiro and Jake Reynolds - Length 6:04