By Patricia Stehling
Communications Coordinator
Central Texas Electric Co-op
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Students
Washington D.C. is home to museums and memorials, beautiful art and grand architecture, and, of course, our nation’s leaders and legislators. In 2024, Central Texas Electric Cooperative will send three high school students on the Government-in-Action Youth Tour to discover the history and culture that our nation’s capital offers.
CTEC’s Youth Tour essay contest is now underway, with essays due January 26, 2024. Winners will earn a spot on what truly is the trip of a lifetime. Participation is open to high school students who will have completed their sophomore year by May 2024.
Youth Tour has a packed itinerary, with stops at the Washington National Cathedral, Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon, the Smithsonian Institution museums and many more sites. Teens and chaperones from all over Texas will meet June 16 in Austin before taking a chartered flight to Washington, to enjoy activities including a performance at the Kennedy Center, a boat cruise with dinner and dancing, and meeting elected officials. Participants will return June 23.
The co-op covers all expenses for the trip (except personal items such as souvenirs, etc.). Chaperones are provided by sponsoring cooperatives, and CTEC can provide transportation to and from Austin.
Contest Rules
To enter, complete the online form at ctec.coop and submit a short essay explaining why you think you should attend the trip. Entries can also be submitted in person at any CTEC office. Entries are due by 5 p.m., Friday, January 26, 2024, and they will be reviewed by a panel of impartial judges, who will determine the finalists. These finalists will undergo interviews with the panel for the final selection of our winners.
Three winners will be selected, and two alternates will also be named in the event that a winner is unable to attend the tour. Additional information and applications are available online at ctec.coop.