Central Electric is sending up to four high school juniors on a trip to Washington, D.C. The educational journey, hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), takes place June 14-20, 2026.
Students will learn about government, cooperative philosophy and rural electrification in our nation’s capital. Tour highlights include the Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Vietnam Memorial and the U.S. Capitol. Students will also participate in a briefing with South Dakota’s Congressional Delegation and a river boat cruise across the Potomac River.
Applicants must be high school juniors during the 2025-2026 school year who permanently reside in Aurora, Brule, Buffalo, Davison, Hanson, Jerauld, Miner or Sanborn County of South Dakota. They do not need to be cooperative members to apply. Children and legal dependents of cooperative directors and employees are not eligible to participate. The application below should be submitted with an essay and a teacher letter of recommendation.
Juniors selected as Youth Tour delegates must obtain signed parental consent from both parents or legal guardians. Pre-trip forms must be signed by both parents or legal guardians in front of a notary public unless one parent or legal guardian is deceased.
Visit www.centralec.coop/youth-tour or call 1-800-477-2892 to learn more. Applications will be accepted until Dec. 10, 2025.