The Montana Electric Cooperatives’ Association and electric cooperatives across the state are sending 26 high school students on an all-expenses-paid trip to the nation’s capital for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s 2022 Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., from June 18-24.
The students, who were chosen by their respective cooperatives after completing an essay or other application requirements, will get to spend a week in Washington, D.C., experiencing history, learning more about how cooperatives work and what they do, and visiting with their congressional delegation.
In addition to the cooperative representatives listed below, Stevensville High School student Madeline Sacry, a Ravalli County Electric Cooperative representative, was chosen as the winner of the statewide Youth Tour essay contest on cooperative principles. As the statewide winner, Sacry’s trip is paid for by the Montana Electric Cooperatives’ Association. All other Youth Tour winners will have their trip paid for by their respective cooperatives.
All Montana Youth Tour participants will get to meet with and ask questions of Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines, along with Rep. Matt Rosendale. While in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding areas, the students also will visit various museums and historical sites.
The winners are: Axel Blodgett of Rapelje, Beartooth Electric Cooperative; Carolyne Christoffersen of Froid, and Kaylee Olson of Froid, both of Sheridan Electric Cooperative; Delaney Clark of Shelby, Marias River Electric Cooperative; Caroline Devoto of Wilsall, Park Electric Cooperative; Alexander Edwards of Broadus, Tongue River Electric Cooperative; Gavin Garrison of Glen, and Taryn Martinell of Dell, both of Vigilante Electric Cooperative; Adam Healy of Whitefish, Neila Lyngholm of Kalispell, and Adam Schrader of Columbia Falls, all of Flathead Electric Cooperative; Caden Hogan of Circle, McCone Electric Cooperative; Daniel Hopf of Hysham, Mid-Yellowstone Electric Cooperative; Kate Maxwell of Lewistown, Fergus Electric Cooperative; Drae Nelson of Bainville, Lower Yellowstone Rural Electric Cooperative; Shea Ostberg of Fairfield and Avery Schubarth of Vaughn, both of Sun River Electric Cooperative; Laynie Sattoriva of Hingham and Colton Spicher of Great Falls, both of Hill County Electric Cooperative; Tylin Sorensen of Corvallis, Ravalli County Electric Cooperative; Whitney Thielen of Plevna, Southeast Electric Cooperative; Trent Truman of Trego, Lincoln Electric Cooperative; and Addison Ulrich of Malta, Big Flat Electric Cooperative.