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Community Electric Cooperative (CEC) is currently accepting applications for its 2024 Youth Programs. Open to high school students, CEC’s new program will feature three events designed to provide students with learning and networking opportunities within the linework field and co-op businesses. Applications will be accepted until Sunday, Dec. 31.

The three planned events are:

Day in the Life of a Lineman – The first event gives participants an up-close and personal opportunity to learn about the life of lineworkers. It will also provide classroom presentations and “in the field” demonstrations and interactions. While selected for the youth program, this will also be open to the general public. This will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 27.

The Virginia Institute on Cooperative Education (VICE) – The second event is an annual leadership conference made annually by the Virginia Cooperative Council, held to educate high school juniors and seniors about cooperatives and the co-op form of business. The conference will be held at Graves Mountain Lodge in western Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains and comes with a $2,000 scholarship opportunity. This will be held from Friday, March 22 through Sunday, March 24.

Youth Tour – The third and last event is organized by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and headquartered near Washington, D.C. The week will provide sighs and stops and also a visit to the U.S. Capitol. The tour is aimed to provide students an understanding of American history and their role as citizens by meeting representatives and senators within Congress. Held from Monday, June 17 through Friday, June 21, other scholarship and leadership opportunities will be made available.

Community Electric Cooperative Manager of Communications Jessica Parr expressed how these new programs provide important opportunities for students in their future.

“We couldn’t be more excited to offer these events for deserving young students in our service area,” Parr said. “Individually and collectively, these events have proven to be a great way for participants to meet people from across the state and country and to learn about energy, politics and the role of electric cooperatives, and even to identify potential career paths.”

Following the application closing, CEC will select three students based on their application quality to take part in the three events. Taking part in all three events as well as creating two social media posts per event will allow participating students to qualify for a $1,000 academic scholarship. They will also have the opportunity to contribute to their local community through a $500 donation made by CEC on the behalf of each participating student’s chosen nonprofit organization within CEC’s service area.

For more information, go to comelec.coop/community/youth-programs.