Students earn once-in-a lifetime trip to Washington, D.C.
The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) is proud to announce the winners of the 2024 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour essay competition. In June, sixteen high school juniors and seniors will travel to Washington, D.C., where they will visit historic locations, observe the inner workings of our nation’s government, meet members of North Dakota’s congressional delegation and learn about the important roles electric cooperatives play in their communities, country and world. Each student's trip is sponsored by his or her local electric cooperative.
“Electric cooperatives do much more than keep the lights on – they’re also committed to improving the lives of the members and communities they serve. Through participation in the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, North Dakota's electric cooperatives demonstrate a commitment to education by providing opportunities for future generations to learn about the cooperative business model and the world around them,” says Josh Kramer, general manager and executive vice president, NDAREC. “The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. We are proud to provide this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to empower their future.”
The following 16 essay winners will represent 15 North Dakota electric cooperatives on this year’s Electric Cooperative Youth Tour.
- Avah Bullinger, Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative
- Kylie Quandt, Capital Electric Cooperative
- Breanna Uhlenkamp, Cass County Electric Cooperative
- Madalynn Orvis, Cass County Electric Cooperative
- Jadrienne Jo Wirrenga, Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative
- Bridger Rivinius, KEM Electric Cooperative
- Arieana Elliot, McKenzie Electric Cooperative
- Neela Sand, McLean Electric Cooperative
- Lucy Blend, Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative
- Caydin Hughes, Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative
- Briley Zhang, Nodak Electric Cooperative
- Ashlyn Follman, North Central Electric Cooperative
- Sean Freund, Northern Plains Electric Cooperative
- Mattea Ann Hysjulien, Roughrider Electric Cooperative
- Landon McKitrick, Slope Electric Cooperative
- Gracie Rauschenberger, Verendrye Electric Cooperative
Students earned the free trip to Washington, D.C., by answering the essay question, “What moment in American history do you wish you had been a part of and what would you have contributed?” 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 the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). 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 development, and communication services including publication of the North Dakota Living magazine.