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HOOKER – Tri-County Electric understands that today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders. That’s why the cooperative offers several important programs to youth in its service area. From scholarships to trips to Washington,  D.C., teens don’t want to miss the March deadlines to apply for these opportunities.

Graduating high school seniors are eligible to apply for two scholarships because they reside in Tri-County Electric’s service territory. Tri-County Electric offers a $1,200 scholarship to Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU). The scholarship is paid at $300 each semester for four semesters through the sophomore year at OPSU. Four recipients are selected for this scholarship based on financial need and academic achievement. The deadline to apply is March 25. In addition, Golden Spread Electric Cooperative, one of Tri-County Electric’s wholesale power suppliers, offers a $1,200 scholarship. This is paid at $300 for each of four semesters through the sophomore year of a college in Texas or Oklahoma. The deadline to apply is March 15.

High school juniors are eligible to take the trip of a lifetime by applying for the Rural Electric Youth Tour, where teens from around the country travel to our nation’s capital for a fun-filled week. Teens who aren’t sure whether to apply might be interested in the experiences of past participants. Sara Oyler of Beaver said the experience “helped open opportunities to small town kids like me, to grasp a hold of and take us places we have always dreamed of going.” The weeklong all-expense-paid trip will be June 12-19. Essays to enter the contest are due March 4. Three lucky students will be chosen to go.

Two outstanding eighth graders from within Tri-County Electric’s service territory will be selected to go on a four-day trip from May 26 to 29 to Canyon Camp outside of Hinton, Okla. At this leadership development camp, students learn about rural electrification while also having fun swimming, hiking and playing volleyball. It’s a great opportunity to learn about a potential career, meet new friends and discover more about one of the essentials of daily life -– electricity. Essays for this contest are also due March 4.

“Youth programs like these prove the cooperative difference,” said Zac Perkins, manager of Customer Service at Tri-County Electric. “We believe in the power of community and it shows in ways you might not see at investor or municipal-owned utilities.”

Obtain entry details for all the programs mentioned above by visiting the Tri-County Electric Web site at www.tri-countyelectric.coop. Hurry, March is fast approaching. If you have questions regarding the competitions, call Tri-County Electric at (800) 522-3315 and ask for Erin Shurley.