Youth Tour Application

2008 Washington Youth Tour Application

(Plesae print the following application, complete and submit with your assignment letter by March 31, 2008)

A panel of volunteer judges will determine winners of the 2008 Washington Youth Tour. The judges will review the information below, along with your assignment letter to determine 3 to 5 students from each county to invite for an interview. Interviews will last approximately 30 minutes and will be conducted at the local Blue Ridge Electric office.

Name: _________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
_______________________________________________
County: ____________Congressional District #:_________
Phone: _________________ Age: _______ DOB: _______
Cell Phone: ______________Email: __________________
School grade: ____ Name of School: __________________
Guidance Counselor: ______________________________
College/University you plan to attend: _________________
Course of study you plan to major in: _________________
Current GPA: _________ School Ranking: ______________

Are you employed? If so, where? _____________________

Name of Parents

Father/Stepfather: ________________________________
Mother/Stepmother: _______________________________
Other guardian: __________________________________

Name of Electric Utility Provider: ______________________

Scholastic Information

Academic and school honors received: _________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________

School activities: _________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________

Special interests, hobbies, talents, church involvement, etc.:
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________

Who’s Eligible?

The Washington Youth Tour is open to high school juniors in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, and Wilkes counties. The winner will be selected to attend the Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. June 9-15.

Contest Guidelines:

  1. Write a letter to an elected official about something you are interested in. You may choose to write in favor or against an issue. The issue may be local and to your local county commissioners; to Raleigh to members of the State House and Senate or even to Washington for state or national leaders.
  2. Fill out the application form above and attach it to a copy of your assignment letter.
  3. Deadline: March 31, 2008. Your application and assignment letter must be received by 5 PM on March 31. Fax applications will not be accepted. Finalists will be selected by April 15 and will be contacted for an interview at one of our local Blue Ridge Electric offices. Interviews will last approximately 30 minutes and represent 50% of the selection process. Interviews will be completed by April 9.
  4. Only one student from each of our four primary districts will be eligible to attend. Blue Ridge Electric reserves the right not to select a student based on academic performance, assignment completion or interview process.

More Information about the Selection Process:

For years, Blue Ridge Electric has offered this travel, leadership and scholarship opportunity to high school students based on written essays and personal interviews. For 2008, Blue Ridge Electric is seeking students with a passion for leadership and can demonstrate that passion in a letter to an elected official on a topic that is important to them. Students interested in the political process or leading change have benefited the most from the Youth Tour. In addition to being a lot of fun, the Rural Electric Youth Tour is an excellent leadership opportunity for any young man or woman.

Youth Tour Winners are Eligible for Several College Scholarships Too

In addition to the travel and leadership learning opportunities, Youth Tour winners will be eligible to compete for three different several college scholarships totaling $6,500. These scholarships are available only to winners of the Youth Tour and this means you have a much higher probability of being selected.


Winners will be announced by April 15. Winners should plan to attend the Blue Ridge Electric Annual membership meeting on Saturday, June 14 at 8 AM in West Jefferson, NC to be recognized. Immediately following the annual meeting, winners will be transported to Raleigh to begin their Rural Electric Youth Tour experience.

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