High school juniors invited to apply for trip to Washington D.C.
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's Youth Tour set for June 12-20, 2019
La Plata Electric Association, Inc. (LPEA), in partnership with the Colorado Rural Electric Association (CREA), seeks high school juniors to participate as part of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's (NRECA) 2019 National Youth Tour Conference in Washington D.C., set for June 12-20, 2019. Application deadline is Monday, January 14, 2019. All high school juniors whose households receive electricity from LPEA are eligible to apply.
(L-R) Anthony Swenk of Bayfield HS, Risa Whitehead of Durango HS, Paul Farrah of Pagosa Springs HS, Kiana Valdez of Ignacio HS and Alma Wold of Animas HS shown here visiting Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. in 2018 will pass the torch of leadership to a new group of high school juniors this spring.
“The Youth Tour to Washington D.C. is unique to rural electric cooperatives across the country,” said Mike Dreyspring, LPEA CEO. “Annually, LPEA and our sister co-ops select and sponsor high school juniors for this all-expenses paid experience. We encourage our local high school students to apply for this unique opportunity.”
The Youth Tour features an intimate look at both state and federal government as the students will visit the Colorado State Capitol Building in Denver and the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. where the students will meet with elected representatives. The students will visit historic monuments, memorials and museums in our nation's capital and attend the NRECA 2019 National Youth Tour Conference with more than 1,900 students from 47 states.
Area high school students Anthony Swenk of Bayfield, Risa Whitehead and Alma Wolf of Durango, Kiana Valdez of Ignacio and Paul Farrah of Pagosa Springs represented LPEA as part of Youth Tour in 2018.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will never forget,” said Anthony Swenk. “I enjoyed the opportunity to meet and talk with my elected officials on Capitol Hill, and I made so many new friends and memories that will never leave me. For all of this, I am extremely thankful to LPEA and everyone involved in the Youth Tour.”
LPEA endeavors to sponsor one student from each municipality within its service territory – Durango, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs and Ignacio. Home school students are eligible.
“To be considered, students must complete a 2019 Youth Tour Application (PDF file) and submit it to LPEA, along with a 500-1,000 word composition addressing the 2019 topic, ‘My Favorite Cooperative Principle,’” said Lonnie Tucker, LPEA communications coordinator, overseeing the Youth Tour application process. "We're very grateful for the support of teachers who offer their students this leadership opportunity. Teachers who support this program and submit at least 10 student entries receive a $50 classroom grant from LPEA.”
Applications are available on the LPEA website, www.lpea.coop., from high school counselors, and at the LPEA offices in Durango and Pagosa Springs. For further information regarding the Youth Tour contact Lonnie Tucker, (970) 382-3511 or ltucker@lpea.coop.
2019 CREA Youth Tour Application (Fillable PDF file) for 2019 LPEA Youth Tour Delegates