Beltrami Electric Selects Lara Hicks for 2016 Youth Tour

Beltrami Electric is pleased to announce that Lara Hicks of Bemidji has been selected as the cooperative's 2016 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour representative. She will join 1,500 high school students representing their cooperatives on an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., June 11-16, 2016. This trip is a part of an annual Youth Tour sponsored by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA) and Beltrami Electric Cooperative.

The Youth Tour program continues to foster the grassroots spirit of the rural electric cooperatives by demonstrating to our youth how our government works and what the electric cooperative business model is all about. Building the next generation of leaders is what the Youth Tour program is all about. Many former Youth Tour representatives have moved on to serve in significant position in our communities, including members of congress. In a time when energy is at the forefront of our nation's issues, this is a great opportunity to have a hand in the creation of electric cooperative advocates!

Candidates are required to submit an application, write a 500-word essay and submit two letters of reference from teachers, group or community leaders.

Ms. Hicks is very active in her school. Not only is she a member of the National Honor Society, she also participates in the BHS Vocalmotive show choir, BHS choir, BHS symphony orchestra, and was part of the pit orchestra for the fall musical. Lara was part of Team Lithuania that was involved in Model United Nations at Bemidji State University, which won an award for Best Delegation. She has received numerous academic achievement awards and has lettered in Academics, Show choir, Orchestra, Choir, Model UN, Weight lifting and Link Crew. Lara has also volunteered with Tots for Science at the Headwaters Science Center in Bemidji, as a camp counselor with Show Choirs of Bemidji and is a current audio volunteer at Lakeland Public Television. In college, she plans to pursue a degree in Law, Social or Political Sciences.

The tour includes visits to the Smithsonian, the National Archives, Arlington National Cemetery, the WWI, Vietnam, Korean War Veteran's Memorials as well as the Jefferson, Washington and Lincoln Memorials. Lara was selected based on her strong educational background and community involvements, qualities that Beltrami Electric Cooperative believes are important in our future community leaders.

Lara is the daughter of Jack and Lucy Hicks of Bemidji, MN.

Beltrami Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative located in Bemidji, Minn. Established in 1940, Beltrami Electric provides power to almost 17,000 member-owners within a 3,000 square mile service area located in the lakes region of north-central Minnesota.