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Government-in-Action Youth Tour

Youth Tour

 


 

GOVERNMENT-IN-ACTION YOUTH TOUR

Each summer, WCEC sponsors local high school students on a fun-filled yet educational trip to Washington, D.C. The Government-in-Action Youth Tour is a weeklong, all-expenses-paid trip to the nation’s capital held each year in June. Students selected for the trip will join more than 150 other teens from Texas and some 1,900 from across the U.S. on this trip of a lifetime.

The trip starts with a day in Austin, where students tour the state Capitol, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum and Texas State Cemetery. Activities include seeing a show at the Bullock IMAX and Texas Spirit Theater and dining at the famous food trailers in South Austin.

Once in Washington, students partake in guided tours of historic sites, museums, and congressional offices, where they meet with their U.S. representatives. Entertainment opportunities on the trip include seeing a performance at the Kennedy Center and going on a dinner and dancing 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.

ELIGIBILITY:

The student must be between the ages of 15 and 19 and must have completed their sophomore year of high school prior to the trip. The parent or legal guardian of the student must be an active residential member of Wharton County Electric Cooperative.

CONTEST RULES:

Applicant must submit a fully completed application as well as a 500-word essay or 5-7 minute video presentation covering the selected topic.

YOUTH TOUR WINNER REQUIREMENTS:

  • Must be able to participate in the Youth Tour trip to Washington, D.C. 
  • Must be able to ride in a car or bus for up to 12 hours (with breaks) in a single day.
  • Must be able to fly in an airplane.
  • Must be able to (and agree to) reasonably assist WCEC in presentation/promotion of the Youth Tour program and WCEC, including promotion at the annual membership meeting in June.
  • WCEC reserves the right to select the runner up or another contestant for the Youth Tour Trip if the winner is found to be a poor representative of the Youth Tour program.
  • The winner’s guardian must give WCEC written permission and a waiver of release for the winner to participate on the Youth Tour.
  • The winner will be covered by Youth Tour’s insurance from home and back.
  • All essays/videos become the property of Wharton County Electric Cooperative, Inc.

 


 

APPLICATION PROCESS NOW OPEN!

Are you a high school student between the ages of 15 and 19? Will you complete your sophomore year before this summer? Is your parent or legal guardian an active residential member of Wharton County Electric Cooperative? 

Yes?

Then you can apply to represent WCEC on the Government-in-Action Youth Tour!

APPLY TODAY!

WCEC's Past Youth Tour Delegates

2023 DELEGATES
Bridget Dorotik & Zoe Schulz

The 2023 Government-in-Action Youth Tour delegates are Bridget Dorotik and Zoe Schulz. Bridget is a senior and Zoe is a sophomore at El Campo High School. 

Read Bridget's winning essay here.

Read Zoe's winning essay here.

 

2022 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Braden Amestoy and Kendall Beal

In 2022, scholarships were awarded in lieu of the Government-in-Action Youth Tour to two graduating high school seniors from our membership.

Braden Amestoy of El Campo High School is the son of Sean and Stacy Amestoy. Read Braden's winning essay here. 

Kendall Beal of El Campo High School is the daughter of Keith and Brandy Beal. Read Kendall's winning essay here. 

2021 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Kayla Bolfing, Cale Chambers, Trent Villarreal

Unfortunately, the 2021 government-in-action Youth tour was canceled due to covid-19. Three $2,500 scholarships were awarded in lieu of the trip. Winners are:

Kayla Bolfing of El Campo High School. Read Kayla's winning essay here.
Cale Chambers of El Campo High School. Read Cale's winning essay here.
Trent Villarreal of Rice High School. Read Trent's winning essay here.

 


 

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  • My Account
    • Manage My Account
      • Start, Stop or Transfer Service
      • Pay Online (SmartHub Login)
      • Payment Options
      • Auto Pay
      • SmartHub
      • Update Account Information
      • Variable Billing
    • Account Information
      • Understanding My Bill
      • Payment Assistance
      • New Service Construction
      • Metering
      • Critical Account Membership
      • Texas Ag Sales & Use Tax Exemption
  • My Membership
    • Member Benefits
      • Co-op Connections Savings Program
      • Patronage Refunds
      • Washington D.C. Youth Tour Trip
      • Outdoor/Security Lighting
      • Products For Your Home
      • Texas Co-op Power Magazine
    • Member Information
      • Annual Meeting of Members
      • Member Resources & Forms
      • Member Communication
      • Notification of Property Hazard/Repair Needed
  • Our Cooperative
    • WCEC
      • WCEC History
      • WCEC Today
      • Board of Directors
      • Power Supply and Distribution
      • Shirly Stubbs Feinstein Endowment
      • Staff & Careers
      • Contact Us
    • Community Involvement
      • Operation Round Up
      • Employee Volunteers
      • CoBank Sharing Success Grant
      • Christmas Lighting Contest
      • Community Presentations
    • The Cooperative Way
      • What is a Cooperative?
      • America's Electric Cooperatives
      • Texas Electric Cooperatives
      • Touchstone Energy Cooperatives
  • Safety & Savings
    • Safety
      • Outage Central
      • Electricity 101
      • Electrical Safety
      • Kids Corner
      • Cybersecurity
      • Scam Protection
      • Call Before You Dig
    • Savings
      • Use Less; Save More - Energy Savings
      • Residential Energy Audits
      • Load Management Program
      • Beat the Peak
  • Internet Services
    • Manage My Internet
      • Pay Online (SmartHub Login)
      • Contact Internet Support
      • Wirehand Wireless FAQs
      • Wirehand Wireless Compatible Equipment List
    • WCEC Internet Options
      • Wirehand Wireless
      • Exede Satellite
  • Outage Central
    • Outage Central
      • Report An Outage
      • Outage Map
    • Outage Information
      • Outage Prep & Safety Tips
      • Outage Prevention
      • Power Restoration