Youth Tour

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE YOUTH TOUR

Each of Arkansas’ 17 electric cooperatives select representatives for the Youth Tour. Those winners will join approximately 1,500 youth from 38 states in Washington for the National Rural Electric Youth Tour.

The trip is all expense paid and will involve approximately 40 other youths from across Arkansas. From June 14 through June 20, the tour will first visit the city of Philadelphia! After a day of sight-seeing, the group will take a private bus to Washington D.C. and visit the White House, the U.S. Capitol, Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson monuments; the Vietnam Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, and other sights in Washington, D.C.

In addition, the winners will be eligible to compete to represent Arkansas on the National Rural Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Youth Leadership Council.  Arkansas’ representative, selected by the tour directors, will attend NRECA’s national meeting and participate in a variety of other cooperative activities throughout the year. They will also have a chance to win a $5,000 scholarship.

Watch the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Youth Tour Summer 2024 Video.

 

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The 2026 Youth Tour selection process is now underway.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS ELECTRIC CO-OP TO SPONSOR YOUTH TOUR 2026

February 1, 2026

Southwest Arkansas Electric Cooperative will select outstanding high school juniors to attend Youth Tour, an all-expenses-paid educational trip to Washington, D.C., from June 13-19. Students selected to participate will have an opportunity to earn a $5,000 scholarship.

During the tour, the chaperoned group will visit historic sites such as Mount Vernon, the Smithsonian Institution, Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the U.S. Capitol. Youth Tour delegates will also visit with members of the Arkansas Congressional delegation.

SWAECC will make its selection based on the student’s submitted application and an interview with the top applicants. 

Other criteria to be considered includes:

•    Be a current high school junior;
•    Have a parent, grandparent or guardian who is a member of Southwest Arkansas Electric Cooperative (include the             member’s name and account number with your submission);  
•    Be acknowledged as a good student and submit an up-to-date transcript of courses taken in high school;  
•    Submit letters of recommendation from the high school principal and counselor (or favorite teacher) explaining why the        student will make an exemplary Youth Tour participant.

Application, letters of recommendation and transcript should be mailed or delivered to the attention of:

Rhonda Morrow, Executive Administrator
Southwest Arkansas Electric Cooperative
2904 East 9th Street
Texarkana, AR  71854.  

Application, transcript and letters of recommendation must be postmarked no later than March 10. The winning contestants will be notified of their selection shortly thereafter. For more information regarding submission or other details, please contact Rhonda Morrow, Executive Administrator, at 870-772-2743 ext. 1201 or 1-800-782-2743.

Youth Tour Fillable Application - CLICK HERE

 

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2025 Southwest Arkansas Electric Cooperative Youth Tour Winners

Paige Eason of Dierks High School and daughter of Dana and Mark Eason; and Avery Carver of Genoa Central High School and daughter of Holly and Paul Carver, were selected as winners of a Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. in June.