youth tour – Dakota Electric Association®

Dakota Electric Association® announces 2025 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour winners

Jake Omodt — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 18:01:56 +0000

Local students win trip to D.C.

(FARMINGTON, MN) March 11, 2025 – Five local high school students were recently selected to receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by Dakota Electric Association. The students will participate in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) annual Youth Tour, scheduled for June 16-21. The students selected are:

A panel of judges selected five students from those who applied after reviewing their applications and conducting a round of interviews. “Every year, I am amazed by not only the number but also the quality of candidates who apply,” said Peggy Johnson, Dakota Electric’s community relations director. “I know our judges have difficulty narrowing the candidates down to just five.”

Every year, over 1,800 high school students from across the United States are chosen and sponsored by their local electric cooperatives to participate in NRECA’s Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. During the week, students learn about government, electric cooperatives, and how they work together. They also have the chance to visit several monuments, memorials, and museums in Washington, D.C., while meeting members of Congress.

Dakota Electric makes applications for the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour available each January. Eligible applicants must be sophomores, juniors, or seniors currently enrolled in high school and residing within Dakota Electric’s service area. Students wanting more information can visit https://www.dakotaelectric.com/community/education-programs/.

About Dakota Electric Association:
Dakota Electric Association is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative serving over 117,000 members in and around Dakota County. Established in 1937, Dakota Electric is committed to providing its members with reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity while actively engaging with the community and promoting energy efficiency. For more information, visit www.dakotaelectric.com or follow Dakota Electric on X, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.

Dakota Electric Association® opens applications for Electric Cooperative Youth Tour

Jake Omodt — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 20:20:42 +0000

High-school students can win an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C.

(FARMINGTON, MN) January 8, 2025 – Dakota Electric Association is calling on the next generation of leaders to apply for a once-in-a-lifetime experience: the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. The Youth Tour was established to inspire our next generation of leaders by allowing them to explore monuments and museums, meet with members of Congress, develop leadership skills and learn about the cooperative business model. Since 1964, more than 50,000 young people have taken advantage of this unique opportunity their local electric cooperative offers.

“We encourage any student who is interested to apply,” said Peggy Johnson, Community Relations Director at Dakota Electric. “We look forward to reviewing all the applications that come in. Year after year, the applications get more and more impressive.”

This opportunity is open to students currently enrolled as sophomores, juniors, or seniors who reside within Dakota Electric’s service territory.

Students can complete the application to apply for this extraordinary trip by visiting Dakota Electric’s website. The deadline for submission is February 21, 2025, so interested students should act promptly to secure their chance.

To complete the application, students must include a letter of recommendation from a teacher, coach, or youth organization leader. This requirement ensures that applicants are recognized for their dedication, leadership, and potential to make a positive impact. Additionally, applicants must be available for in-person interviews on March 13 or 18.

Youth Tour offers an unparalleled opportunity for students to broaden their horizons, gain valuable insights, and forge lifelong friendships and memories. This immersive experience allows students to explore iconic landmarks, engage in interactive educational activities, and connect with peers nationwide.

“This is an unbelievable experience—once in a lifetime,” continued Johnson. “With Youth Tour being an annual occurrence, we can invest in our future leaders on a regular basis. That investment in our community and the next generation of leaders is something Dakota Electric is very passionate about.”

Dakota Electric Association is committed to empowering the community’s youth and providing them with unique opportunities for growth and development. By offering this all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., Dakota Electric aims to inspire and motivate students to become active participants in shaping the future.

Don’t miss out on this incredible chance to win a trip to Washington, D.C.! Apply now and embark on an unforgettable adventure that will leave a lasting impression.

Please direct questions to Peggy Johnson, Community Relations Director, at (651) 463-6110 or (612) 978-4612 or email pjohnson@dakotaelectric.com.

About Dakota Electric Association:
Dakota Electric Association is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative serving over 115,000 members in and around Dakota County. Established in 1937, Dakota Electric is committed to providing its members with reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity while actively engaging with the community and promoting energy efficiency. For more information, visit www.dakotaelectric.com or follow Dakota Electric on X, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.

2024 Youth Tour Winners

Chris Myers — Fri, 03 May 2024 19:52:32 +0000

This post contains outdated information and is kept for archived purposes only.

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Youth Tour was established to inspire our next generation of leaders. Students who participate receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to learn about the cooperative business model, meet elected officials, visit monuments and museums, tour federal agencies and discuss issues that are most important to them.

Dakota Electric has sent approximately 160 students since 1967. This commitment to our community is a fundamental part of what makes us more than your average utility.

Below are the students that Dakota Electric will be sponsoring for this year’s Youth Tour.

Elizabeth Aars

Lakeville North High School Grade 11

Makayla Magnuson

Lakeville North High School Grade 11

Ebrahim Mohamed

Eastview High School Grade 11

Tanisha Senapati

Eastview High School Grade 12

Matthew Vengal

Eastview High School Grade 10

Adonias Ketema

Rosemount High School Grade 12 - Alternate

Area students traveling to Washington, D.C. in June

allie.shetlerDEA — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 16:39:38 +0000

This post contains outdated information and is kept for archived purposes only.

Five local high school students were recently selected to receive a trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by Dakota Electric Association. The winners are Mitchell Conzemius, Hastings High School; Emily Hull, Eagan High School; Sarah Most, Eastview High School; Michelle Quan, Rosemount High School; and Jacob Widen, Burnsville High School. The students will participate in the National Rural Electric Association’s (NRECA) annual Washington, D.C. Youth Tour, scheduled for June 9-14. Mya Hillerud, Eagan High School, was selected as an alternate.

Each June, more than 1,200 high school students from around the United States travel to Washington, D.C. for the NRECA Youth Tour. The participants are selected and sponsored by their local electric cooperatives, and during the week, they learn about government and electric cooperatives. The students will have the opportunity to tour many of Washington, D.C.’s sites, including the Smithsonian, the FBI Building and the Vietnam Memorial, and they also have a chance to meet their elected officials.

“Dakota Electric is proud to sponsor local students to attend an event like the Washington, D.C. Youth Tour,” President and CEO Greg Miller said. “At this Youth Tour, some of the nation’s brightest students gather together to have fun and learn about our government.”

A panel of judges selected students after reviewing the student applications and interviewing them.

“We have a lot of quality students in our area and our judges always have a hard time narrowing it down to just five to go on the trip,” Peggy Johnson, Dakota Electric’s community relations director, said. “We thank all the students for applying.”

Each January, Dakota Electric makes applications available for high school juniors and seniors to apply for the Youth Tour program. Students wanting more information can email: pjohnson@dakotaelectric.com.

Local students return from Washington D.C. trip

allie.shetlerDEA — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 14:27:28 +0000

This post contains outdated information and is kept for archived purposes only.

Dakota Electric’s Youth Tour students pose for a picture while in Washington D.C. (L-R): William Barnes, Kelsey Shaw, Emma Anderson, Holly Anderson and Kyle Ringley.

Five area high school students, sponsored by Dakota Electric Association, recently returned from a Washington D.C. trip-of-a-lifetime. Dakota Electric’s students joined more than 1,800 students from across the nation (39 from Minnesota) for the 53rd annual National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Rural Electric Youth Tour held June 10-15. Dakota Electric Association awarded the students the trip after they completed the application and interview process in March. The five local winners were Emma Anderson, Eagan High School, Holly Anderson, Christian Life Academy, William Barnes, Lakeville South High School; Kyle Ringley, Christian Life Academy; and Kelsey Shaw, School of Environmental Studies.

Each year in June, an activity-filled week affords these high school youth opportunities to learn first hand what it is like to be involved in politics, community development and today’s social issues. The events of the 2017 Youth Tour consisted of learning about governmental processes, issues of the day, electric cooperatives, American history and meeting with elected legislators, including Representatives Peterson, Nolan, Lewis, Emmer and Walz and Senator Franken.

Students had fun, enjoyed seeing many sites and memorials, learned many things and made memories. The trip inspired some to desire to be active in politics.

“I can’t wait until I’m working in congress and making a positive change in our country,” said Shaw.

Seeing the monuments, especially the National Museum of the Marine Corps, was a moving experience, and Barnes said he “could not go far without a feeling of great national pride.” He also said he “gained 38 new friends.” This trip is described by many as “a trip of a lifetime.”

Emma Anderson was selected to represent Minnesota on the Youth Leadership Council. As a delegate to the YLC, she will return to Washington D.C. in July to focus on leadership skills, and then in 2018, she will participate in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s annual meeting. This is a huge honor and it is the second year in a row that a Dakota Electric student was selected for this role.

In addition to taking in the sights and sounds of Washington D.C., all state groups convened for Rural Electric Youth Day to learn from public figures and other inspirational speakers.

Mike Schlappi, a four-time Paralympic medalist and two-time World Champion wheelchair basketball champion, gave an inspiring message for every American, young or old: “Just because you can’t stand up, doesn’t mean you can’t stand out.”

The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has been a joint effort of local electric co-ops, such as Dakota Electric, their statewide co-op associations, including the Minnesota Rural Electric Association, and the NRECA, since 1964. In that time, more than 58,100 high school students from the nation’s cooperative electric utilities have visited their U.S. congressional lawmakers, attended grassroots government education sessions and enjoyed sightseeing in Washington D.C.

Students wishing to participate in Youth Tour 2018 should watch for information in Dakota Electric’s newsletter or on the Web site in January or contact their guidance counselor.