Youth Tour and Leadership Camp 2020
2020 Winners
On Sunday, Feb. 2, students participated in Western Cooperative Electric’s annual youth contest for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., or Steamboat Springs, Colorado, plus a scholarship!
The winners were selected by a three-member judging panel based on an interview, a quiz about electric cooperatives, and a one-page essay on the topic “Something I am Passionate About.”
Winners of the trip to Washington DC and a $250 scholarship are Jonathan Spachek (left), Ellsworth High School, son of Kurt and Linda Spachek; and Ethan Reever (right), Otis-Bison High School, son of TJ & Kristi Reever.
Winners of the trip to Steamboat Springs, CO and a $250 scholarship are Alicia Phlieger (left), Hays High School, daughter of Scott & Dawn Phlieger; and Samantha Robben (right), Hoxie High School, daughter of Doug & Kim Robben.
Winner of the $250 Darrell Brown Memorial Scholarship is Carlee Flax, Western Plains High School, daughter of Kevin Flax, Ransom.
Congratulations to the 2020 winners, and a big thank you to everyone who participated!
Five Winners
- Two winners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. (June 18-25, 2020) plus a $250 college scholarship.
- Two winners will receive a trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to attend Leadership Camp (July 10-16, 2020) plus a $250 college scholarship.
- One winner will be selected as an alternate and receive a $250 college scholarship.
To qualify you must be a high school junior whose parent/guardian receives electricity from Western.
Youth Tour
As many as 1,500 high school students from across the country spend a week in the nation's capital as part of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. The students are sponsored by electric cooperatives – cooperatives that are committed to educating America's rural youth about America and the role electric cooperatives play in developing strong rural communities.
Participating in the Youth Tour is an awesome way to learn about this great nation, develop leadership skills, gain a better understanding of electric cooperatives, and make friendships that will last beyond the week!
Leadership Camp
In 1973, Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., (KEC) Board of Trustees suggested there should be a conference for youth, in addition to the existing Youth Tour program.
In 1976, KEC sent a representative to the camp created by the Colorado Electric Cooperatives to evaluate the camp activities and educational potential. In 1977, KEC sent its first delegates to the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp (then called the Energy Seminar) in Steamboat Springs.
Now, nearly 100 students from Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming attend the leadership camp every year.