MPE's Annual Video/Essay Contest
Presenting MPE's Youth Video/Essay Contest. The two prizes are each life-changing, all-expense paid trips, one to Washington, D.C. and the other to Youth Leadership Camp. Both awards (trips) help students beef up their post-high school resumes for college and employment applications. See details below.
Application Deadline is January 15, 2027
Online Entry Form (Recommended): Youth Tour Contest Entry Form
PDF Entry Form: Youth Tour Contest Application in PDF form
Washington, D.C. Electric Cooperative Youth Tour
June 16-22, 2027
Every June, more than 1,800 high school students from towns and small cities in rural America spend a week in the nation’s Capitol as part of the National Rural Electric Youth Tour. One high school junior, senior, or recent graduate from within Mountain Parks Electric’s service territory will join students from Colorado and all across the United States to make memories that will last a lifetime.
Electric Cooperative Youth Tour 2026 Schedule* Includes:
- Meet in Denver to start our week together
- Tour the Colorado State Capitol
- Fly to Washington, D.C.
- Visit with U.S. Senators and Representatives
- Tour the U.S. Capitol
- Tour Library of Congress
- Potomac River Dinner Cruise
- Meet students from other states
- Learn about cooperatives
- Visit the Pentagon and Air Force Memorials
- Visit National Cathedral
- See the Navy Memorial, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution
- Visit your choice of Smithsonian museums
- Attend a dinner and dance with students from across the country
- See World War II, Vietnam War, Lincoln, and Korean War Memorials
- Visit Arlington National Cemetery
- See Martin Luther King Jr., Franklin D. Roosevelt, & Thomas Jefferson Memorial
- Visit the Holocaust Museum
- Night out in National Harbor
- Say goodbye to Washington D.C., and your new friends, say hello to life-long memories
*Schedule is subject to change
The contest is open to all high school students who:
- in the summer of 2027, will be juniors, seniors, or recent graduates
- are at least 16 years of age by the first Friday in January
- are attending a school in MPE’s service territory
- and are living in a household that receives electricity from MPE
Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp
July 10-15, 2027
Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp (CYCL) is a weeklong adventure near Steamboat Springs. At CYLC, youth develop leadership skills, learn about cooperatives, and have lots of fun!
The contest is open to all high school students who:
- in the summer of 2027, will be juniors, seniors, or recent graduates
- are at least 16 years of age by the first Friday in January
- are attending a school in MPE’s service territory
- and are living in a household that receives electricity from MPE
There are a ton of great activities planned for the next Youth Leadership Camp. The following is an example of the day-by-day listing of the activities.
DAY 1
- Arrive at camp, break into small groups, meet your fellow campers, learn about cooperative governance and elect a board member for your group, and hear an amazing leadership speaker.
DAY 2
- Learn about managing conflict, ride a gondola to the top of Mt. Werner, play volleyball, swim, and watch a high-voltage electric safety demo.
DAY 3
- Run for an ambassador position; tour the Craig Power Plant, build an electric system; watch as your hair stands on end–really–during the Story Behind the Switch presentation; and show us your talent.
DAY 4
- Float down the Colorado River and dance under the mountain stars.
DAY 5
- Learn about birds of prey with HawkQuest, take another look at leadership, elect the next year’s ambassadors, and celebrate at the banquet.
DAY 6
- Say goodbye to your new friends. Cherish all your amazing camp memories.
CONTEST RULES & GUIDELINES
- Submit 1-3 minute video or 500 word essay on the following topic:
- As you're considering future career fields, if you were to choose a path that could land you a job one day at Mountain Parks Electric, which field/area/job would that be, and why? Remember, it takes a wide variety of jobs to run the cooperative, such as accounting, customer service, energy resources/power supply, engineering, grant writing, human resources, line work, management, marketing/communications, risk and strategy, etc.
- Enter online using this form
- Or, use this PDF form, and upload your video submission to Vimeo, YouTube, or your Google drop box link. Email your URL/link OR your essay and your entry form to memberrelations@mpei.com with "Youth Contest" in the subject line.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: January 15, 2027
MPE will contact you if you win.
Open to all high school students who:
- in the summer of 2027 will be juniors, seniors, or recent graduates,
- who are at least 16 years of age as of the first Friday in January,
- who live in a household that get electricity from Mountain Parks Electric,
- and are attending a school within MPE’s service territory.
Essay/Video Guidelines:
In a short 1- to 3-minute video OR a 500-word essay, cover the following topic:
- As you're considering future career fields, if you were to choose a path that could land you a job one day at Mountain Parks Electric, which field/area/job would that be, and why? Remember, it takes a wide variety of jobs to run the cooperative, such as accounting, customer service, energy resources/power supply, engineering, grant writing, human resources, line work, management, marketing/communications, risk and strategy, etc.
If you're considering the video option, we're not asking for a masterpiece, but the videos will be judged and scored based on these five factors:
- Creativity and Originality: How unique and innovative can you get without going overboard?
- Quality: This covers the overall thought and care that went into your production.
- Performance: If the video includes acting, how convincing and impactful are the performances?
- Impact and Message: Does it leave a lasting impression, provoke thought or change?
- Audience Engagement: Does it keep viewers interested throughout?
Did You Attach Your Essay or Video Submission?
The max file size accepted within this application is 20MB. If you are unable to upload it on our online form, please upload your video to one of the following platforms: YouTube.com, Vimeo.com, or Google Email's DropBox. Once you've uploaded your video, please send your video link/URL to memberrelations@mpei.com with the subject line reading Youth Contest.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: January 15, 2027
MPE will contact you if you win.
Good Luck!