Empowering tomorrow’s leaders: Electric cooperatives send high school students to Washington, D.C.
In June, 14 high school juniors and seniors will travel to Washington, D.C., on an all-expense-paid trip sponsored by North Dakota's electric cooperatives. The students earned the trip by winning the 2025 North Dakota Youth Tour essay competition. While in the nation's capital, they’ll explore monuments and museums, meet with members of Congress and learn about the important roles electric cooperatives play in their communities, country and world.
“Electric cooperatives are committed to empowering the next generation of leaders, and the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour is a testament to that commitment,” says General Manager and Executive Vice President Josh Kramer, North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives. “This experience not only introduces students to the cooperative business model but also broadens their perspective of the world around them. By exploring our nation’s capital and engaging with policymakers, they gain a deeper appreciation of American history, the democratic process and their role as active, informed citizens.”
The following students will represent North Dakota’s electric cooperatives on this year’s Electric Cooperative Youth Tour:
- Kaden Heupel, Capital Electric Cooperative
- Imaya Armstrong, Cass County Electric Cooperative
- Trinity St. Claire, Cass County Electric Cooperative
- Addyson Erbele, KEM Electric Cooperative
- Alexa Avila-Vazquez, McKenzie Electric Cooperative
- Analiese Kallberg, McLean Electric Cooperative
- Stray Ressler, Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative
- Ailvia Lowery, Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative
- Kiera Willis, Nodak Electric Cooperative
- Addison Letvin, North Central Electric Cooperative
- Annabelle Staus, Northern Plains Electric Cooperative
- Caiden Quinlivan, Roughrider Electric Cooperative
- Kailee Gussey, Slope Electric Cooperative
- Abby Finke, Verendrye Electric Cooperative
Students earned the weeklong trip by submitting an essay that answered the question, “Why is it important to be involved in your community, and how does that prepare you to be a future leader?” The annual essay writing contest is open to high school students in their sophomore or junior year whose parents or guardians are members of a participating electric cooperative.
Nearly 50,000 students from rural areas and small towns across America have participated in the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour since it began in the late 1950s. The program is coordinated by NDAREC and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Based in Mandan, NDAREC is the statewide trade association for North Dakota’s electric cooperatives.
For more information, visit www.ndyouthtour.com.
NDAREC is the statewide trade association for 17 electric distribution cooperatives and five generation and transmission cooperatives operating in North Dakota. The distribution cooperatives provide electricity to more than 250,000 North Dakotans. NDAREC services include legislative advocacy, line worker safety training and professional development services, cooperative business and rural development, and communication services including publication of the North Dakota Living magazine.