High school juniors invited to apply for trip to Washington D.C.
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour set for June 17-25, 2020
DURANGO, Colo. - 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) 2020 National Youth Tour Conference in Washington D.C., set for June 17-25, 2020.
(L-R) La Plata Electric Association, Inc. Youth Tour delegates, shown here while visiting Capitol Hill in 2019, will pass the torch of leadership to a new group of high school juniors this spring. Current delegates shown above, now high school seniors, include (L-R): Larissa Gallegos, Irie Sentner, Emma Happ, Diego Salinas and Heleny Zacamolpa.
“As someone who worked for a US Senator in Congress, this is an excellent opportunity for high-school juniors to experience the nation’s capital,” said LPEA Chief Executive Officer Jessica Matlock. “Annually, LPEA and our statewide cooperatives select and sponsor high school juniors for this all-expenses paid experience. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.”
The Youth Tour allows students to experience the nation’s capital and learn more about how they can make a difference as young adults. Students will learn about the cooperative business model and values, visit historic monuments and memorials, pay their respects at The Arlington National Cemetery, tour a variety of Smithsonian museums and meet elected officials, all while building a peer network with young leaders from across the country.
LPEA will sponsor five local students to join the Colorado Youth Tour delegation during the weeklong tour in Washington, D.C. More than 1,900 students from 45 states are expected to participate in 2020, and Colorado’s electric cooperatives will send a delegation of about 45 students.
“If you’re a high school student who wants to grow as a leader, the Youth Tour is the perfect opportunity to build your skills, gain new experiences and form valuable relationships with others,” said LPEA Communications Coordinator Lonnie Tucker. “Youth Tour has something to offer to everyone and can help prepare you for future success on any path you pursue after high school.”
Area high school students Larissa Gallegos, Irie Sentner, Emma Happ, Diego Salinas and Heleny Zacamolpa represented LPEA as part of Youth Tour in 2019.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will never forget,” said Diego Salinas. “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 five students within its service territory – Durango, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs and Ignacio. Home school students are eligible.
To be considered, students must complete a 2020 Youth Tour Application and submit it to LPEA, along with a 500-1,000-word composition addressing the topic, ‘My Favorite Cooperative Principle.” Deadline for Youth Tour applications and compositions are Friday, December 20 at 5 p.m. For additional information contact Lonnie Tucker, (970) 382-3511 or ltucker@lpea.coop.
In 2019, LPEA, celebrated 80 years providing safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost to approximately 34,000 members, located in the counties of La Plata, Archuleta, and segments of Hinsdale, Mineral and San Juan.