2024 Youth Tour Essay Contest
Bowie-Cass Electric Co-op is proud to be able to sponsor two students once again on the Government-in-Action Youth Tour, a 10-day guided trip to Austin and Washington, D.C.
Youth Tour is an all-expenses-paid trip to our state’s and the nation’s capital. Our statewide association, Texas Electric Cooperatives, coordinates the trip from June 16 to 24, 2022.
Students selected for this opportunity join more than 150 of their peers from Texas and some 1,900 other students from across the U.S. on this trip of a lifetime. Designed to give young people insight into national history, Youth Tour expands participants’ horizons while educating them about government and cooperatives. Electric cooperatives in Texas have participated in Youth Tour since 1965.
The trip starts with a day in Austin, where students tour the state Capitol, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, and Texas State Cemetery. They then fly to Washington for an action-packed week, including tours of historic sites, museums, and congressional offices, where they meet with their U.S. representatives. Other highlights of the trip include a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and an evening cruise on the Potomac River. Participants also attend Youth Day, hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, for a day of learning and inspiration.
A sense of purpose has guided co-ops throughout their existence. For Bowie-Cass Electric Cooperative and others across the country, that means investing in our young people—the leaders of tomorrow.
To become part of this legacy and represent BCEC on Youth Tour, enter the essay contest!
Eligibility
Students who are juniors or seniors in high school in the 2023-24 school year and whose parent or legal guardian is a member of Bowie-Cass Electric Cooperative are eligible.
Contest Rules
Students must submit an essay not to exceed 500 words, typed and double-spaced, on one of two topic selections:
- Topic #1: How is an electric cooperative different from other types of electric companies, and what are the benefits of those differences?
- Topic #2: What is the history of electric cooperatives, and how does that history affect their business today?
Entry Deadline
The winners will be chosen according to the originality and content of their essays. Essays must be submitted no later than Friday, February 23rd, 2024. Youth Tour Essay contest finalists will be required to submit a video of themselves reading their essay for final consideration.
Submission Details
Essays and videos can be submitted electronically by sending an email to Devin Skaggs or by mail to
Bowie-Cass Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Attn: Youth Tour Essay Contest
PO Box 47
Douglassville, TX 75560
Include a Cover Page with your essay. The Cover Page will need to have the applying student’s name, email address, date of birth, school and grade level in the 2021-2022 school year, parent or guardian name, address, email, and telephone number.
Questions?
For more information, contact Devin Skaggs at (903)846-2311, ext. 226, or by email or visit texasyouthtour.com.
2023 Youth Tour Video
Check out the 2023 TEC Youth Tour from Texas Youth Tour on Vimeo. (Fun Fact – around 1:44 in the video, you’ll see one of our winners from this year, Carlee Heldt!)