Youth Tour Essay and Scholarship Contest

For decades, Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CHEC), along with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives (OAEC), and other Oklahoma rural electric cooperatives have been sponsoring the Washington Youth Tour Essay and Scholarship Contest for high school juniors. CHEC awards four students with an all-expenses-paid trip of a lifetime to Washington, D.C., and $500 each in scholarship money. We also award up to six other students $250 each in scholarships. We are pleased to announce our continued support for this incredible opportunity again this year. The Youth Tour program is designed to educate students on the role of electric cooperatives in the national economy, foster appreciation for the democratic form of government, and instill invaluable leadership skills.  

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Student must be a U.S. Citizen or a legal permanent resident of the United States.
  • Students must be classified as eleventh-grade students who attend a school or are homeschooled in the Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative service area. (*It is not a requirement for the parent/guardian of the student to be a member of or receive electric power from Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative.)
  • Students must graduate from high school to receive scholarship funding.
  • Students must provide proof of full-time enrollment status.
  • Students must be enrolled full-time in an accredited post-secondary institution as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, including: 
    Community College
    Technical, Vocational, or Trade School
    College or University
 For more information, please contact Brad Martin at 800-328-2368 or consult with your high school scholarship coordinator.

Download the 2026 Youth Tour Guidelines

Download the 2026 Youth Tour Entry Form

Download the 2026 Youth Tour Bonus Competitions

Download the CO-OP 101 Study Booklet

 

 

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