FARMINGTON, Minn. (March 27, 2008) — 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 winners are Travis Brown, Rosemount High School; Kelsey Harding, Christian Life School; Michael Molenaar, Northfield High School; Elise Reller, Apple Valley High School and Bradley Simon, Burnsville High School. Katherine Menke, Hastings High School and Noah Larson, Christian Life School were selected as alternates. The students will be part of the National Rural Electric Association’s (NRECA) annual Washington, D.C. Youth Tour, scheduled for June 13-18.
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. During the week, they learn about government, cooperatives and rural electrification. Students have the opportunity to tour many of Washington, D.C.’s sites, including the Smithsonian, the FBI Building and the Vietnam Memorial. They also have a chance to meet their elected officials.
“Dakota Electric is proud to offer these extraordinary students the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C.,” President and CEO Greg Miller said. “The Youth Tour provides a great way for local youth to learn about government, electric cooperatives and the nation’s Capitol.”
The students were selected after filling out an application and going through an interview process.
“Each year we have a great group of students apply for the trip,” Peggy Johnson, Dakota Electric’s community relations director, said. “The judges always have a hard time narrowing down to five students for the trip.”
