Area high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors have the chance win an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. next summer to participate in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Electric Cooperative Youth Tour leadership program. 1 local winner will be among 1,500 high school students chosen from across the nation to tour Washington, D.C., in June, 2025. The lucky winner will learn more about how government works, visit the Smithsonian Institute, Arlington National Cemetery, Capitol Hill, Mount Vernon, the FDR Memorial, the World War II Memorial, and more.
To qualify, a high school sophomore, junior, or senior’s primary residence in Plumas, Lassen, Sierra or Washoe counties must be supplied with either electric power through Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative (PSREC) or Internet service through Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications.
Complete the application and submit a typed or legibly-written essay. The topic for this year’s essay is: “Washington Youth Tour students have an opportunity to visit with their congressman or woman. As a member of an electric co-op, write an essay about the concerns and questions you would discuss with your representative. Explain why these are important issues to you.” The essay should be no less than 500 words and no more than 1,000 words. Essays will be judged on creativity and content (with consideration given to spelling and grammar) by the editorial staff of Ruralite magazine in Oregon.
The deadline to apply is Friday, January 30, 2026. – Applications are closed for 2026
Download the application (PDF) and mail or drop off the completed application to:
PSREC
c/o Emily Compton
73233 State Route 70
Portola, CA 96122