Hughes earns once-in-a lifetime
trip to Washington, D.C.
Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative (MWEC) is proud to announce the winner of its 2024 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour essay competition, Caydin Hughes. In June, Hughes will join nearly 2,000 students from across the country on a weeklong trip to our nation’s capital, where he will visit historic locations, observe the inner workings of our nation’s government, meet members of North Dakota’s congressional delegation and learn about the important roles electric cooperatives play in their communities, country and world. The all-expense-paid trip is sponsored by MWEC.
“Electric cooperatives do much more than keep the lights on. They’re also committed to improving the lives of the members and communities they serve. One of the ways MWEC demonstrates this commitment is through its participation in the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour,” says MWEC General Manager Alex Vournas. “The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. Youth Tour gives students the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the world around them, while developing leadership skills. We are proud to provide this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to empower their future.”
Hughes, a sophomore at Trenton High School, is one of 16 essay winners representing 15 North Dakota electric cooperatives on this year’s Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. Hughes earned the free trip to Washington, D.C., by
answering the essay question, “What moment in American history do you wish you had been a part of and what would you have contributed?” The annual essay writing contest is open to high school students in their sophomore or junior year whose parents or guardians are members of a participating electric cooperative.
Nearly 50,000 students from rural areas and small towns across America have participated in the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour since it began in the late 1950s. The program is coordinated by the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Based in Mandan, NDAREC is the statewide trade association for North Dakota’s electric cooperatives.