Empowering the next generation through education and unforgettable experiences
Roby, Texas – January 2, 2025 – Big Country Electric Cooperative (BCEC) is excited to continue offering scholarship opportunities and the Government-in-Action Youth Tour contest for local students. BCEC will send three students on an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. from June 15-22, 2025. Participation is open to all students, regardless of whether their parents or guardians are BCEC members.
About the Youth Tour: The Youth Tour is an actionpacked trip to Washington D.C. with approximately 150 students and chaperones from Texas and 1,700 participants from across the U.S. Highlights of the tour include visits to the Washington National Cathedral, Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Smithsonian museums, and more. Students will also learn about rural electrification, enjoy a Kennedy Center performance, a Potomac River dinner cruise, and meet with congressional leaders. The Youth Tour has been a Texas electric co-op tradition since 1965, inspired by then-Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson, who encouraged youths to visit Washington to experience their American heritage and government in action. Over 4,000 Texans and 50,000 young Americans are Youth Tour alumni.
Sophomore, junior, and senior students are encouraged to participate in this exciting video contest opportunity. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on January 23, 2025, and videos must be uploaded by 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 30, 2025. This year's video topic is 'Understanding the Electric Grid: Explain how it works, and the role cooperatives play in maintaining it.' Winners will be announced by February 14, 2025. Additionally, BCEC will donate a $500 grant to the school with the most student video submissions.
In addition to the Youth Tour, BCEC and its affiliates offer several scholarship opportunities:
• Big Country EC Academic Scholarship:
Two $4,000 scholarships will be awarded to graduating seniors whose parent(s)/ guardian(s) are members of Big Country EC. Deadline: March 1, 2025.
• Directors Memorial Scholarship, Golden Spread Electric Cooperative: $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to selected recipients who are 1) entering freshmen college or university students and 2) child or spouse of a Big Country EC member. Deadline: March 1, 2025.
• Texas Rural Electric Women’s Association (TREWA) Scholarship: Twenty $1,500 TREWA scholarships are available to current members and their children. Non-members can apply for membership with their scholarship application. Applicants or their guardians must be current members or employees of a Texas electric cooperative. Scholarships are for graduating high school seniors, full-time college students, or adults accepted as full-time students. Deadline: March 15, 2025. For more information and to apply, visit bigcountry. coop, or contact Krysha Burleson at (325) 776-3803 or kburleson@bigcountry. coop.
About Big Country Electric Cooperative BCEC is a memberowned electric cooperative serving rural communities across twelve counties in Texas. Our mission is to be the first-choice electric provider through safe, reliable, competitive service to our members. We are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the communities we serve.
