Two local students will have the opportunity to participate in a week-long, all expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. sponsored by Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative. They will also attend the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s “Government-In Action” Youth Tour Conference in Baton Rouge.

The participating students will be decided by an essay contest, which is open to children, ages 16-18, of WST members. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 8.

Approximately 28 young people from Louisiana will join more than 1,300 students from 40 states on June 14-21 for a week of sightseeing and a firsthand look at how the United States government functions.

Before reaching Washington, the students will tour one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, the Natural Bridge, in Shenandoah Valley, Va. In Washington, the students will tour the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, Washington Monument, Vietnam and Korean War Memorials, Arlington National Cemetery, the Holocaust Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, Ford’s Theatre and the White House and will also take a boat cruise down the Potomac River. One day will be spent on Capitol Hill touring the U.S. Capitol and visiting the offices of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation.

WST General Manager Charles Hill said the contest provides a “great opportunity for two of our students to visit our nation’s capitol.”

“WST Electric is dedicated to the education of our children through programs such as the youth tour, our annual scholarship program, Newspapers in Education and teacher mini-grants,” he said.

Hill pointed out that the winners would also receive an all expense-paid trip to the Co-op Youth Leadership Conference in Baton Rouge on March 26-28.

Students interested in applying will need to complete an application form and prepare a typewritten essay of 800 words or less. The topic this year is, “Cooperatives are member-owned and controlled. As a future decision maker for your cooperative, describe the best ways we can connect and communicate with you.” Essays should be submitted, along with an application, to: WST Electric, Attn: Robin Drago, P.O. Box 697, Franklinton, LA 70438.

An independent board, selected by the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives, will judge the essays and determine the winners.

For more information or to receive an application, contact your school principal or visit WST’s website at www. wste.coop.