WELCOME
Choctaw Electric Cooperative Youth Tour 2026
General Information
Each year, Choctaw Electric Cooperative sends three area high school juniors to visit Washington D.C. at no charge to the student. This program, called Youth Tour, is sponsored by electric cooperatives all over the nation. Youth Tour was created to allow students the opportunity to visit our nation’s capital and see firsthand how our government works.
In the past years, Youth Tour participants were able to visit National Monuments and Memorials, Smithsonian Museums, Mount Vernon, Arlington Cemetery, Ford Theater, Holocaust Museum and many other points of interest as well as getting to meet with Oklahoma’s representatives and senators.
As in years past, Choctaw Electric pays for all lodging, transportation and meals for the students selected for Youth Tour.
The selection process for Youth Tour 2026 will open on November 1,2025 and run through December 12, 2025.
Youth Tour 2026 Eligibility Information
Eligibility Information
Choctaw Electric Cooperative Youth Tour 2026
Perhaps CEC’s best-known and most anticipated youth program, Youth Tour is a week-long, all-expenses-paid educational trip to Washington, D.C. in June of each year. CEC annually sponsors three delegates—all juniors—from high schools within its service territory on Youth Tour. Students travel with the Oklahoma delegation (70+ students) to our nation’s capital where they tour historic sites and national landmarks, meet Oklahoma’s congressional delegation, and more. Youth Tour has earned a reputation as “a trip of a lifetime” by former participants. Youth Tour will be June 13-19, 2026.
Eligibility: High school Juniors( can attend a private school, home school, Christian based school) that live in the CEC service area.
Youth Tour contest opens on November 1, 2025 thru December 12, 2025.
Contest: Submit an essay on the following topic: A Nation Lit up: Exploring the Cultural Impact of Electricity on American Life and its Celebration of 250 years!
References – support your ideas with 3 credible references – Do NOT use Wikipedia!
Students may submit their presentation to Jia Johnson – 800-780-6486 ext 241. Finalists will be required to participate in a formal interview at the CEC office in Hugo and be prepared to discuss their project before a panel of judges. Date to be announced.
If teachers would like to schedule a presentation for their class please contact Jia Johnson – jjohnson@choctawelectric.coop
Jia Johnson, PO Box 758, Hugo, OK 74743
Contest Rules and Guidelines
For Contest Rules and Guidelines, click the contest flyer link below
In addition to being a lot of fun, Youth Tour builds relationship and leadership skills pertinent for the future!
Students will meet and interact with Oklahoma's federal delegation and learn the importance of current issues and policies throughout the state and nation.
Connections and relationships will form during the weeklong trip and everlasting friendships will be created.
Experiences include:
- Arlington National Cemetery
- The Vietnam Memorial
- The Smithsonian museums
- A night time driving tour of Washington, D.C.
- A boat cruise on the Potomac River
- The Pentagon
Guidelines
High school Juniors( can attend a private school, home school, Christian based school) that live in the CEC service area.
Candidates must submit a one page essay over the following topic:
A Nation Lit up: Exploring the Cultural Impact of Electricity on American Life and its Celebration of 250 years!
Congratulations to the 2025 Winners
Ella Herron Haworth High School
Chloe Farley Idabel High School
Ella Herron Haworth High School
Brook Burrage Antlers High School
Chloe Farley Idabel High School
Ella Herron Haworth High School
Chloe Farley Idabel High School
Chloe Farley Idabel High School
Chloe Farley Idabel High School
YOUTH TOUR 2025
