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Electric Cooperative Youth Tour

The Trip of a Lifetime!

Each year, Ozarks Electric Cooperative sponsors local high school juniors for an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Youth Tour. These students will join more than 1,500 peers from across the country for a once-in-a-lifetime experience in our nation’s capital.

During the weeklong trip, Youth Tour delegates will meet their representatives and senators, tour historic sites, monuments and museums and gain a deeper understanding of electric cooperatives and their role in serving rural communities.

In addition to the all-expenses-paid trip, Youth Tour delegates will receive a $500 scholarship from Ozarks Electric, awarded during their senior year.

Application
A large group of people in matching blue shirts pose in front of the Washington Monument and Reflecting Pool on a cloudy day.

Eligibility

All current high school juniors who attend a school or are homeschooled in the Ozarks Electric service territory are eligible to apply. Students must be available to attend the trip in its entirety. Arkansas Youth Tour will take place June 13-18, 2026 and Oklahoma Youth Tour will take place June 13-19, 2026.

Eligible Schools

  • Cave Springs High School

  • Don Tyson School of Innovation

  • Elkins High School

  • Farmington High School

  • Fayetteville Christian

  • Fayetteville High School

  • Greenland High School

  • Haas Hall Academy

  • Har-Ber High School

  • Huntsville High School

  • The New School

  • Lincoln High School

  • Ozark Catholic Academy

  • Prairie Grove High School

  • Premier High School

  • Prism Education Center

  • St. Paul High School

  • Shiloh Christian

  • Springdale High School

  • Stilwell High School

  • Watts High School

  • West Fork High School

  • Westville High School

Application Process

Students must submit a complete online application by the deadline of January 15, 2026. The application includes an original essay response to a provided prompt and one letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor or other community contact. Finalists will be invited to participate in an interview with Ozarks Electric representatives. Following interviews, the selected Youth Tour delegates will be notified in early February. Applications will be available on October 1, 2025.

Questions? Please reach out through our contact form.

Explore Youth Tour

The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour connects students to opportunities at the state and national level. Explore the links below to see how the program comes to life across the country.