STUDENTS PROGRAMS

Embracing the cooperative principles of concern for community and the responsibility to educate and inform, IAEC’s Student Programs seek inspire rural Iowa high school students to explore electric cooperative careers, build leadership skills and connect with the cooperative values.

Program Overview

IAEC organizes and manages statewide involvement in the annual Youth Tour every June. Participating co-ops select and sponsor high school students with a passion for leadership and government who represent their co-op during the weeklong trip to Washington, D.C. On the tour, students learn about electric cooperatives, American history and U.S. government and walk away with a greater understanding of their role as an American citizen. They participate in Youth Day, visit with their representatives and senators, and explore the sights around the nation’s capital. In Iowa, students apply for slots from their local electric cooperative. Each year, approximately 35 students from Iowa join with over 1,800 students from 43 other states for Youth Tour. Students are selected based on their local cooperative’s criteria.

Starting in 2021, we also coordinate the Iowa Youth Leadership Academy webinars in October. Guided by our cooperative commitment to community, we offer a virtual opportunity for rural students to learn more about advocacy, electric co-op career opportunities and the cooperative business model with a three-part webinar series in October.

Once students register online for the Iowa Youth Leadership Academy, they can attend the webinars from their own computer or mobile device.

At the end of each live session, one lucky attendee will be selected at random to win a pair of Apple AirPods. Students who attend all three sessions will be entered into a random drawing for a $1,000 college scholarship. All students who register online receives a special box of co-op goodies in the mail.