Contest Rules –
The subject of the essay is: 'Energizing Every Moment." How cooperatives provide communities with more than just power. (Examples can include energy, broadband, community opportunities and youth empowerment.)
1. You must reside in or attend a school within OEC's seven-county service area. Click here for a map.
2. You must mention Oklahoma Electric Cooperative or 'OEC' in your essay.
- Contestants will be required to submit an application that includes an essay of 750- 900 words in length.
- Essays and entry forms must arrive at OEC no later than 11:59 p.m., November 1, 2026.
- 12-point, Times New Roman font, double-spaced
- Your essay must be revised and edited by a teacher before submission.
Ways to enter:
- You may submit the essay below by attaching a pdf version to this form.
- E-mailed entries should be directed to Carrie Koesler at carrie.koesler@okcoop.org.
- Hard copies may be mailed to Youth Tour Contest, OEC, P.O. Box 1208, Norman, OK 73070. Hard copies must arrive by November 1. Any copies received after November 1 will not be accepted.
Important dates:
- Deadline to enter: November 1, 2026
- Finalist notified: November 6, 2026
- Required Presentation Skills Workshop at OEC: November 21, 2026
- Youth Tour Banquet at OEC: January 28, 2027
- Youth Tour Leadership Academy at OAEC: April 21-22, 2027
- Youth Tour trip to Washington, D.C.: June 18-23, 2027
The essays will be evaluated, and eight finalists will be chosen. Those finalists will attend the awards banquet and present their essays in speech form to the judges. Four winners will be selected to attend the Oklahoma Youth Tour. The additional four contestants will attend Camp RYLA located at Goddard Youth Camp.
*Essays will be scanned and tested for use of AI. If the essays show a majority use of AI, they will be disqualified.