Each year Verendrye Electric sends one student on an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to learn about our country's history and how our federal government operates.

To select a student, we hold an essay contest with a different question each year. Students must be sophomores or juniors in high school at the time they enter the contest. This ensures the student is still in high school when they go on the trip in the summer. The entrant must also have a parent or guardian who is served by Verendrye Electric.

Essay Question: 

As member-owned organizations, electric cooperatives are always seeking new ways to engage their members. What are some ways electric cooperatives can better communicate and connect, especially with students and young adults?

Email your entry to kristiekh@verendrye.com or mail it to Verendrye Electric Cooperative c/o Youth Tour Contest, 615 Highway 52 West, Velva, ND 58790

The deadline to apply is January 16, 2026. If you have questions contact, Kristie in Member Services at 701-338-2855. For more information about Youth Tour, including details of the trip, visit ndyouthtour.com.