Rutherford EMC will send three high school juniors to the Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. in June. A Winner and alternate will be chosen from each of Rutherford EMC's three operating districts in early March to represent the cooperative on the tour.

This expense-paid week at our nation's capital is coordinated by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and statewide rural electric cooperative associations. It brings together over 1,200 high school students from all over the country for a week-long learning and sight-seeing experience that those who take part in remember for a lifetime. Winners will be chosen through a competition organized in each Rutherford EMC district.

Following are the contest rules:

1. Eligible to apply are high school juniors who live in a year-round home served by Rutherford EMC or whose parents/guardians own a business served by Rutherford EMC. Children of Rutherford EMC's directors or employees are not eligible.
2. Contestants will be required to fill out an application, including in 50 words or less why they would like to go on the Youth Tour, and perform a simple energy inspection of their home. Deadline for completed entries is February 18, 2011.
3. Each finalist will be interviewed by a panel of judges during the first week of March. Winners will be selected and notified at this time. A first-place winner and alternate will be picked from each of the co-op's three operating districts (Alternates go on the tour if the first-place winners are unable to attend.) Selection of Youth Tour winners is based on the application, home energy inspection, extra-curricular activities, scholastic standings, and a personal interview.
4. Tour activities begin on Saturday, June 11, with a banquet for participants and their parents in Raleigh. It ends the following Friday, June 17, with a return trip to Raleigh. Rutherford EMC bears all expenses for the tour participants except spending money.
5. Youth tourists are also eligible to apply for the $2,500 Gwyn B. Price Scholarship and the $2,000 Kate Bunch Memorial Scholarship. In addition, they will be eligible to compete to serve on the Youth Leadership Council. The Youth Leadership Council representative will receive a $2,000 college scholarship on completion of his/her responsibilities.

For more information, complete and return the form below or call Denise Gavin at 828-245-1621 or 1-800-521-0920, ext 417. Please submit your request for more information on entering the contest by Feb. 11. Remember deadline for completed entries is February 18, 2011.