A local teenager will experience firsthand the pride of being an American by winning a free trip to Washington, D.C. June 18-23, 2024. Federated Rural Electric, Jackson, will select the winner of this trip through its annual Youth Tour Contest.
High school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors, attending a high school in Federated’s service area can enter. Pick up an application from the school counselor or contact Federated (info@federatedrea.coop or call 1-800-321-3520). The application and information are also found on Federated’s website (www.federatedrea.coop). The student writes a 300-word essay on an energy-related topic, which is due with the application by Feb. 2. The first 15 students to enter receive $20 gift certificates to Amazon.com.
Five finalists are selected for short interviews March 12, starting at 4 p.m. The combined scores from the essay, interview and application determine the trip winner, along with second and third place who receive $150 and $100, respectively.
“Last year only five local students entered the contest so your odds of winning are great,” stated Andrea Christoffer, Federated’s marketing & communications manager. “Investing an hour or two in writing an essay and doing the short application could mean winning a free trip to D.C.”
The winner will travel with 40 other Minnesota teens sponsored by other rural electric co-ops. Federated’s delegate is one of 1,000 delegates nationally. Here’s a few possible tour highlights:
• Tour the monuments: Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean Veterans Memorial, Iwo Jima Statue, World War II Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial, Air Force Memorial and Arlington Cemetery
• Tour historic sights: Smithsonian Museums, Holocaust Memorial Museum, Newseum, 9/11 Memorial, National Cathedral and Mount Vernon.
• Attend special events: theater performance and Washington Nationals baseball game.
• Interact with 1,000 teenagers from across the U.S. sponsored by rural electric co-ops; meet with your Members of Congress and make new friends.
• Go places; interview to be the Minnesota representative on the Youth Leadership Council. If selected, you will travel to D.C. again for 2024 Youth Leadership Council in July and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Annual Meeting Atlanta, Georgia, March 7-12, 2025.
