ELIGIBILITY:

  • Only high school juniors in Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Livingston, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, or West Feliciana are eligible to enter; homeschooled students are also eligible.
  • The essay topic should be a letter to a political leader (President of the United States, Governor of Louisiana, Mayor, Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, etc.). The letter should address any topic of concern that is important to the student/author.
  • All essays are not to exceed 750 words; submit your essay online.  
  • Submit your essay Nov. 1, 2024-January 20, 2025.
  • Note: Only DEMCO members are eligible to win the trip to D.C.; however, ALL entering students are eligible for prizes to be awarded for best-written essays.
  • All essays submitted in this contest will become the property of DEMCO and will not be returned.
  • Children, grandchildren, brothers, or sisters of DEMCO employees or directors are ineligible.

CONTEST DETAILS:

  • The first round of judging is based on originality, composition, and how well the student addresses the subject.
  • Twelve semi-finalists will be selected from the written essay entries to proceed to the next round of judging on March 18, 2025. 
  • Final judging is based on the student's oral presentation of their essay at the banquet and a brief test on rural electrification knowledge.
  • Four students will win an all-expense paid trip sponsored by DEMCO to travel to Washington, D.C., for the weeklong National Rural Electric Youth Tour. Student winners must be available for the trip dates mid-June 2025 (dates TBD).

SUBMIT YOUR ESSAY ONLINE (The contest is closed.)

If you are unable to submit your essay online, please email a cover page that includes all the information listed below with your essay to Community@DEMCO.org.

  • Student's name, home street address, telephone number, email address, and age
  • Parent/Guardian Name, home street address, telephone number and email address
  • Name of school
  • Name of English or Civics teacher
  • Student's school and community activities, achievements, and extracurricular activities