Like many things in 2020 and 2021, Medina EC’s Youth Tour program and contest looked a little different this year.
Youth Tour awards deserving students a $500 scholarship, an educational trip to a co-op office, and a 10-day, once-in-a-lifetime trip to Austin and Washington, D.C. Each year, Medina EC uses an essay contest to choose three Youth Tour winners. However, in mid-December, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and Texas Electric Cooperatives made the decision to cancel this year’s tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As applications had already been submitted, Medina EC’s board of directors voted to continue with the contest, awarding the winners with scholarships and hosting an expanded and improved version of our local Youth Tour Day at Medina EC’s Dilley office.
Students were asked to submit an essay or video answering the question, “If you had the opportunity to change one thing about your school or community, what would it be and why? Additionally, how would you go about making the change?” Medina EC had an impressive response from applicants, and we are happy to announce our winners: Brad Bendele from Hondo, Ava Smith from San Antonio and Alexsandra Flores from Laredo.
To learn more about Medina EC’s Youth Tour program or to sign up to receive notifications, visit MedinaEC.org/YouthTour.
Youth Tour Day
To give Medina EC’s Youth Tour applicants a taste of the Youth Tour trip, we planned Youth Tour Day.
Students learned more about electric cooperatives on the local, state and national levels; the history of Youth Tour; a live line safety demonstration; and the various programs Medina EC offers to its members. Students also had a chance to speak with Medina EC’s CEO Mark Rollans and Texas representatives including state Rep. Andrew Murr’s staff, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales and state Sen. Roland Gutierrez.
