DEADLINE: 4:00 P.M on February 20, 2026

ELIGIBILITY AND DETAILS

The Ohio Youth Tour is an unforgettable, annual week-long all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. that gives exceptional sophomores and juniors the opportunity to meet their congressional leaders at the U.S. Capital, make new friends from across the state and country, and see many of the famous Washington sights. Students from the state of Ohio will join over 1,800 delegates from 43 other states for a “trip of a lifetime”.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible to compete for the Washington Youth Tour, the following provisions will govern the acceptance of applicants:

  1. Applicants must be the child or legal ward of a North Western Electric Cooperative, Inc.’s (NWEC) permanent residential member receiving service for the duration of the 2025-2026 academic year (August 2025-June 2026). Children/wards of commercial members are not eligible unless they are also permanent residential members of NWEC.

  2. Applicants must be a high school sophomore or junior during the 2025-2026 academic year (August 2025 - June 2026).

  3. Previous contest winners are not eligible to participate in this competition.

  4. Members of the immediate families and persons residing in the households of trustees or employees of NWEC are not eligible to participate in the competition. An exception may be made if there is a lack of eligible applications received and if it is approved by the President/CEO.

  5. Applications must be submitted (typed or printed neatly to be accepted) on forms furnished by NWEC and submitted to the NWEC office by 4:00 pm on February 13, 2026.

  6. Applicants must be available to travel June 14 - 20, 2026.

  7. Application information must be confined to the items below.

  8. All eligible applicants may be asked to participate in a personal interview. You will be notified of the interview date and time, if applicable.

  9. All rules stated within this document conform to the policies and program guidelines as set forth by NWEC.

  10. These rules (dated heron) supersede all previous rules for this competition.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

To be considered for the 2026 Youth Tour competition, all the following MUST BE submitted with your application (below) by Friday, February 13, 2026:

  • An official, signed grade transcript

  • A recent photo of the applicant - A photocopy of a photo is acceptable

  • One letter of recommendation - It may be typed or handwritten, and must be no longer than 800 words

    • The person writing the letter may be a teacher, a community leader or a family friend. The adult you choose should be personally acquainted with your personality, your school and/or community activities, your personal and/or academic achievements.

Current Grade

Parent/Guardian's Information

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Acknowledgements

I hereby acknowledge that I am applying for a chance to win an all-expense paid, week-long trip to Washington, D.C. sponsored by National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, and North Western Electric Cooperative (NWEC). I agree to permit the review of this application by members of the NWEC Selection Committee.

As the parent/guardian of the student completing this application, I hereby consent and agree that if the student is selected as a winner, NWEC, its employees, and agents have the right to take photographs, videotape, or digital recordings of the applicant to use in any and all media, with or without their name and for any lawful purpose.