We’re looking for high school students who are interested in public service and leadership

Guided by our cooperative commitment to community, Chariton Valley Electric Cooperative (CVEC) has a long history of supporting students in the communities we serve through scholarships and leadership opportunities. We have also been sending deserving high school students to our nation’s capital every summer for years as part of the national Electric Cooperative Youth Tour program.

Iowa’s electric cooperatives are pleased to offer an opportunity like this for rural students to learn more about advocacy, electric cooperative career opportunities and the cooperative business model with a three-part webinar series in October. The Iowa Youth Leadership Academy is open to any high school student in our service area, and they are invited to register at www.IowaYouthTour.com by October 1.  

“This program is really designed for rural Iowa students who have a passion for public service, leadership or government,” remarked Leilani Todd, CVEC CEO/General Manager. “We want to raise students’ awareness of how local electric cooperatives power people’s lives and empower communities. We also want to talk about cooperative career paths that are available in smaller communities. This program was extremely successful last year, and we hope our local youth take advantage of it again!”

Once students register online for the Iowa Youth Leadership Academy, they can attend the webinars from their own computer or mobile device or come to CVEC’s co-op office. Each Zoom session will last around 45-60 minutes and focus on a specific topic:

• Thursday, Oct. 6, 7:00 p.m. – Cooperative Business Model
• Tuesday, Oct. 18, 7:00 p.m.  – Rural Iowa Advocacy
• Thursday, Oct. 27, 7:00 p.m. – Civic Involvement and Leadership

At the end of each live session, one lucky attendee will be selected at random to win a pair of Apple AirPods. Students who attend all three sessions will be entered into a random drawing for a $1,000 college scholarship. All students who register online by October 1 will receive a special box of co-op goodies in the mail.

During the Zoom sessions, students will be inspired by our line-up of speakers and presenters. Participants will learn how to advocate for issues that are important to them and build leadership skills from a motivational speaker. Attendees will also hear from former Iowa Youth Tour students who pursued their passion for government service and leadership after attending the weeklong trip to Washington, D.C. The 2023 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour is slated for June 17-23, 2023.

Learn more at www.IowaYouthTour.com or contact CVEC’s office at 641-932-7126 for more information