Fourteen high school students from across the SSVEC service area have been selected for the SSVEC Foundation’s 43rd annual Washington Youth Tour.
The competition began in August, with students completing tests and essays to qualify. At the Washington Youth Tour Finals, qualifying students took tests, wrote essays, and had multiple interviews to compete for a spot on the 2026 Tour. Finalists and their families gathered in Benson on Nov. 5 for a celebratory evening where the surprise announcement brought the room to life.
The room erupted with cheers when Kristin Gray, SSVEC Community Relations Manager, announced that the Foundation would be funding the six-day tour of the nation’s capital for all the finalists.
“It’s wonderful that this year the SSVEC Foundation was able to provide this opportunity for all of the finalists,” Gray said. “Investing in area youth for this educational experience is completely consistent with the mission of the SSVEC Foundation.”
Students also had the chance to compete for a spot as Arizona’s delegate to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Leadership Council, with three finalists advancing.
“The Washington Youth Tour program fuels our mission to invest in local youth,” said Daniel Wilson, Executive Director of the SSVEC Foundation. “These students are exceptional.”
The Tour is funded by the SSVEC Foundation, supported by unclaimed membership equity that is reinvested directly into scholarships, STEM programs, and youth leadership opportunities.
In June 2026, the students will join peers from cooperatives across the nation for a week in Washington, D.C., exploring cooperatives, government, history, and leadership. Congratulations to all the winners!