Youth Tour Winner To Visit Washington, D.C.

Emma Cullen
Thompson, N.D.

Nodak’s student delegate to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Electric Cooperative Youth Tour will have to wait one more year to experience the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour is an all-expenses paid, seven-day trip to Washington, D.C., and was scheduled this year for June 18-25. Unfortunately, the educational adventure was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Emma Cullen of Thompson, N.D., this year’s chosen student, will now join more than 1,500 students on next year’s trip.

The Youth Tour gives high school students the excitement of traveling, meeting new nationwide friends, learning about America’s history and visiting with current federal government leaders from their states. The trip includes visits to Gettysburg, Capitol Hill, the Smithsonian and a rally with hundreds of students from across the country. This opportunity is open to select sophomore or junior students whose homes are served by electric cooperatives. Interested students apply by submitting an essay. This year’s essay prompt was: “If chosen as a Youth Tour delegate, you will travel to Washington, D.C., to experience and learn about America’s rich history. What moment in American history do you wish you had been a part of and what would you have contributed?”

Nodak had a great number of students apply for the Youth Tour, but Emma’s submission rose above the rest. Her family lives in rural Thompson, on a few acres with cats, a dog and a large garden. Emma is home schooled and is active in band, summer theater, track and cross country at Thompson High School. In her free time, she enjoys crafting (knitting, painting and drawing) and reading (historical fiction is her favorite genre). After high school, she plans to study Dietetics at the University of North Dakota.

Nodak congratulates Emma for writing an outstanding essay and earning the opportunity to attend the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. We will keep you posted on Emma’s trip next year.