In a word, it is truly the trip of a lifetime! Each summer during the month of June, Petit Jean Electric Cooperative joins all the Arkansas cooperatives, not to mention cooperatives from 37 other states, in sending approximately 1,400 high school juniors on an expense-paid trip to the nation's capitol, Washington D.C. Since rural electric cooperatives are resolutely committed to local education and leadership development, the purpose of the trip is to provide proven learners and students a unique opportunity to learn about electric cooperatives, American history, and U.S. government.
During the tour, students attend educational seminars and visit with their representatives in the House and Senate. Moreover, they see historical sights in and around Washington D.C. - Arlington Cemetery, the monuments, the U.S. Capital, the Smithsonian, Mt. Vernon, and many other historic places - and, perhaps most importantly, they learn about cooperation.
Let there be no doubt that Petit Jean Electric is heartily committed to doing its part in partnering with our community toward the investment in and development of our children and youth, and thus ultimately the perpetual success of our community. The Youth Tour experience typifies and expresses the sentiments of Petit Jean Electric Cooperative and its commitment to our community in a tangible and concrete way.
Each year we sponsor and support 2 juniors from our service area in this once in a lifetime learning experience. The 2 high school juniors chosen to represent Petit Jean Electric on the Tour are chosen through an essay writing contest, an interview evaluation, and an independent panel of 3 judges. During the final stage of 3 independent judges, all essays are examined anonymously. Interview evaluations are used to break any ties in essay scoring.
Here is how it works. Working in conjunction with local high school officials (Superintendents, Guidance Counselors, etc.) and teachers (English teachers, Speech teachers, Civics teachers, History teachers, etc.), beginning in early March, high school juniors are first asked to write an essay on an assigned cooperative topic for the year. The essayists are given 3 to 4 weeks to research and compose their essays, usually due by the first week in April. Those essayists selected by their teachers for the best essays are then interviewed. The best essays chosen by the teachers of the various schools within Petit Jean's service area are then judged by an independent panel of 3 judges. The independent judges have no clue as to the identification of the essayists and must use the score sheet provided by Petit Jean. The students writing the top 2 essays in Petit Jean Electric's service area are the winners of the contest.