"If you get a chance, go, it's the trip of a lifetime."
Cayden Cox
Government in Action Youth Tour
For more than 50 years, teens from rural America have been coming to Washington, D.C. on the “trip of a lifetime,” courtesy of their local sponsoring electric cooperative, their state association, and NRECA. Over the years, these delegates have toured some of the finest museums in the world and visited America’s most historic monuments. They have met with their elected officials and explored Capitol Hill. They have learned about the impact electric cooperatives have on their communities as well as how programs like NRECA International are impacting lives around the world. And each year, roughly 2,000 delegates and staff make an impact on Washington, D.C.
HOTEC is proud to announce that we participate in the "Government-in-Action Youth Tour", sponsored in conjunction with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and Texas Electric Cooperatives (TEC). The youth tour contest is held for high school junior students and the winner will receive a two week all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. in June of each year.
Youth Tour Dates for Texas: June 11-19, 2023
- Arrive in Austin: Sunday, June 11
- Austin Venues: Monday, June 12
- Fly out to DC: Tuesday, June 13
- DC Scheduled Time: June 13-19
- Fly Back to Austin & Last Activities: Monday, June 19
- Go Home Day: Tuesday, June 20 by 10:00 a.m.
The winner will join nearly 150 others from Texas on this exciting trip. On Rural Youth Day, the Texas group will meet participants from other states at the nation's capitol where they will meet their State Representatives. Nearly 1,500 students from around the country will gather to learn about each other and what life is like in other parts of the United States.
To be eligible, an applicant must be a high school student who has completed their sophomore year of education and whose parent, grandparent or legal guardian is currently a member of Heart of Texas Electric Cooperative. Past members and family members of HOTEC or board of directors are not eligible. Eligible applicants must submit an an essay not to exceed 500 words on the "History of Electric Cooperatives."
A winner, or sometimes winners, will be chosen according to the originality and content of their essay. The winner will be required to give a brief summary of their trip at the Annual Membership Meeting in October after their tour is completed. Applicants must turn in their applications and essay at the same time.
If you meet the eligibility requirements, we welcome you to apply to go on this once in a lifetime trip filled with experiences, new people and a chance to see how our Government works.
Those interested can find the application here.
If you have questions, please e-mail Bary Roy and he will be sure to answer any questions you may have. He can be reached at broy@hotec.coop or by phone at 254-321-9266 or 1-800-840-2957. Your application and essay may be dropped off at either office or mailed to:
Heart of Texas Electric Co-op
ATTN: Bary Roy
PO Box 357
McGregor, TX 76657
The deadline to apply for the 2023 Youth Tour is February 15th.
'It was life-changing' | Youth Tour winner reflects on cooperative funded D.C. trip
By Bary Roy
broy@hotec.coop
254-321-9266
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sometimes the best thing you can do is simply put pen to paper and your best foot forward to win something so far off your radar it wasn’t even a thought to begin with.
“My Mom happened to see it in the magazine and thought I should apply,” Cayden Cox, the 2022 Youth Tour winner admitted. “I was skeptical at first, but I am glad she convinced me to apply.”
Started by then-U.S. Sen. Lyndon Johnson in 1957, the “Government in Action Youth Tour” happens every year and is touted as a once-in-a-lifetime trip that gives students who are chosen a chance to see their country at work. According to the tour’s history page, Johnson understood the rural life and as a champion of electric cooperatives wanted rural children across the country to “actually see what the flag stands for and represents.”
Cox, a junior at China Spring High School, wrote an essay on the ‘History of Electric Cooperatives’ and submitted to the Heart of Texas Electric Co-op, finding out shortly after that he was selected for the all-expense paid trip to see our nation’s Capitol.
“It really was a life-changing trip because of being able to see everything and to kind of enjoy the moment, that was pretty special for me,” Cox explained. “Not everybody has the chance to go to D.C. and do the things we got to do on the Youth Tour.”
The 10-day non-stop trip includes tours of the Capital as well as a chance for kids to see historical sites up close and personal. While the trip is about connecting with others and forging lifelong friendships along the way, there’s also an educational aspect filled with our country’s history and the historical role electrical cooperatives play in powering America.
“Going into the trip, I didn’t really know and understand how the House of Representatives fully functioned,” Cox said about some of the educational side of trip. “We as a people probably have some of our own ideas and to see our elected officials at work, they do a lot for us in the district that they serve.”
When asked to relay some of the most memorable parts of the trip, and his biggest take away from all of it, Cox wasted no time in mentioning the brave men and women who stand up for this country in the military and not taking anything for granted.
“It really all hit me at the Arlington National Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and we looked out and just all of the tombstones and it just hit me in that moment that those buried there, they sacrificed their lives,” he said.
Cox talked also about his sit-down conversation with Congressman Pete Sessions, who represents the 17th Congressional District in Texas. It’s another opportunity afforded to Youth Tour winners each year when they head out east.
“It was a unique experience,” he explained, “because we got to talk about what we felt some of the issues in our town and area were and how we thought we could help fix them.”
Cox said he believes he knows what Johnson meant back in 1957 when he talked about wanting rural children across the country to see what the flag stands for and represents. He said Johnson’s words are represented in how he felt that day, without question, at the Arlington National Cemetery.
“It stands for and represents the freedoms we have and all of those that gave their lives so we can have that benefit,” he said, in summer’s fading glow in Texas.
While Cox is forever grateful to his mom for encouraging him to apply, he’s also thankful for the HOTEC membership who afforded it to happen through their financial commitments each year. He says without their willingness to help, he would not have the newfound appreciation he has now for those who, both, work for us in D.C. and enlist in the military and vow keep us safe.
"I cannot thank you all enough for sending me to go experience this once-in-a-lifetime trip, and to Heart of Texas Electric Cooperative, as well,” he said.
Cox said he hopes others will do themselves a favor and enter to win the trip to the Capitol because, as someone who once was skeptical, he’d love to experience it again if he could.
“I do wish I could do it again and if I was offered another chance to go, I would,” Cox said without hesitation. “If you get the chance to go, take it, apply, you won’t regret it.”
For more information on the Youth Tour, call your students counselors and e-mail Bary Roy to learn more at broy@hotec.coop.
HOTEC Scholarships
"The future belongs to those who believe in the power of their dreams."
Eleanor Roosevelt
At the Heart of Texas Electric Cooperative, we would like to support those who have big dreams and are looking to pursue a college education. We understand the cost can be high so we are here to help, those who qualify, reach their goals of attending secondary education. Please read through the tabs for more information on how to apply. Please reach out if you have any questions. Students can also see their counselors for more information.
For those looking to pursue secondary education, we are thrilled to help in this endeavor. The following conditions must be met for students to qualify:
The recipient must have graduated high school within two years of the application deadline; reside in the household (primary residence) of an HOTEC member. The member must be in good standing for at least twelve (12) consecutive months as of the application deadline. Good standing is defined as “a member that has paid all bills to the cooperative for which they are legally responsible or liable for the most recent twelve (12) months without having been issued more than two termination notices."
The recipient must be enrolled in an accredited program, either full time or part time and can only be an undergraduate student only.
Scholarship use must commence within one year of date and the scholarship may be used at any two-year or four-year accredited college or university in Texas, including technical institutes.
The scholarship fund will be in the form of a grant program with the funds being paid to the college, university, or technical institute. The scholarship fund will be $1,000 to each scholarship winner ($500 per fall and spring semester). The committee will award 10 scholarships per year. It is also important to note that scholarships are not renewable but recipients are encouraged to reapply.
Applications should be completed in detail and will be reviewed by members of Scholarship Committee. The applications that are accepted will be placed in a random drawing to be held at the HOTEC office and winners notified in May after the drawing. The selection committee made of impartial judges will use a combination of need, academic ability, and citizenship in determining the qualification.
A first-time college student applying for the HOTEC scholarship must meet the following criteria:
- Have graduated from high school with at least a "C" average (2.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale or,
- Have graduated from high school and received a minimum ACT test score of 21 or,
- Be accepted into an accredited college or university in Texas, including Technical Institutes.
An undergraduate college student seeking the scholarship must have achieved a 2.5 (on a 4.0 GPA scale) on all prior college work.
An application must be completed and returned to HOTEC by March 1 of current year and the recipient will be required to provide HOTEC with an official transcript verifying their eligibility before funds are paid. The funds will be paid to the school at the beginning of each semester upon presentation of an official transcript for payment of tuition. To receive the second semester payment, the student must provide evidence of a maintained minimum GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 GPA scale).
Note: If the student does not continue their enrollment beyond the first semester, the remaining funds will be held in the HOTEC account and awarded to a new student during the next selection process.
Applications and qualifications sheets may be picked up at your school counselor's office or contact broy@hotec.coop and can be found by clicking here.
Applications may be dropped off at either office or mailed to:
Heart of Texas Electric Cooperative
ATTN: Bary Roy/Scholarship Application
PO Box 357
McGregor, TX 76657
Deadline: Applications must be completed in detail and received no later than March 1st of the current year to be considered.
We are honored at the Heart of Texas Electric Cooperative to be able to award ten scholarships to qualifying students in the amount of $1,000 each to help students achieve their biggest dreams.
Qualifying students may also apply for the Texas Rural Electric Women's Association (TREWA) Scholarship. This Texas-born organization grants 20 TREWA scholarships of $1,500 each. You must be a current TREWA member or be the child of a member to qualify.
To learn more, visit them online by clicking here.