WYSOX — Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative is searching for high school juniors interested in taking an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., this summer.

The Wysox-based utility will select eight students to participate in the 2006 Rural Electric Youth Tour, an annual event organized by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

The Youth Tour, set for June 11-16, draws more than 1,300 rural students from around the country to the nation’s capital for a week of sight-seeing and socializing each year. While there, students visit the Smithsonian, Vietnam and Korean War memorials, National Cathedral, Arlington National Cemetery, Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, Mount Vernon and the National Zoo.

They also travel to Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress, take an evening boat cruise on the Potomac River, attend a dinner and dance that brings together all 1,300 Youth Tour delegates and enjoy a live theatrical production.

Claverack holds a contest to select its student delegates. Entrants must complete an application form and write a short essay on the topic “How do electric cooperatives differ from other electric utilities.” The deadline for submitting applications and essays is Monday, March 27.

To receive an application packet or for more information about Youth Tour, contact Brian Zeidner, director of member services, at (570) 265-2167 or 1-800-326-9799. Guidance offices at area high schools also have application materials available.

The contest is open to high school juniors whose parents or legal guardians receive electric service from Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative at their permanent residences.

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