Glades Electric Cooperative’s 2026 Youth Tour delegates Gabriel Gonzalez-Molina, of Okeechobee, and Ellise Mills, of Lake Placid, pose on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. [Photo courtesy Glades Electric]

MOORE HAVEN — Glades Electric Cooperative is accepting applications for its 2027 Washington, D.C., Youth Tour, offering high school juniors in Glades, Hendry, Highlands and Okeechobee counties the opportunity to earn an all-expenses-paid trip to the nation’s capital June 17-22, 2027.

The cooperative will select two students to participate in the annual Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, a national program coordinated by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The weeklong experience brings together more than 1,500 high school students from across the country for leadership development, educational tours and opportunities to learn about the nation’s history, government and legislative process.

Youth Tour delegates visit historic landmarks and museums, participate in leadership and advocacy workshops, and meet with congressional staff to learn firsthand about public service and the legislative process. The experience also gives students the opportunity to build friendships with motivated peers from across the country and develop skills that can benefit them in college and future careers.

For Gabriel Gonzalez-Molina of Okeechobee, one of Glades Electric’s 2026 delegates, the experience offered a new perspective on leadership and the nation’s history.

“This is an experience like no other. You go in with one mindset and come out with another,” Gonzalez-Molina said. “You meet new friends from across the nation that are leaders like you and you see key moments in our nation’s history and monuments that inspire many to stand up and become strong leaders like the ones of our past.”

Glades Electric has sponsored students for Youth Tour for decades as part of its commitment to education, leadership development and community involvement. All high school juniors who reside in Glades, Hendry, Highlands or Okeechobee counties are eligible to apply, regardless of whether their homes receive electricity from Glades Electric Cooperative.

The application process requires students to complete an online application, submit two letters of recommendation and provide a video lasting 90 seconds to three minutes. The deadline to apply is Jan. 5, 2027.

Students interested in participating can find application requirements, the video prompt, judging criteria and application materials at gladeselectric.com/community/student-programs-information. Questions may be directed to communications@gladeselectric.com.

For students interested in leadership, government, history or simply expanding their horizons, Youth Tour offers an opportunity to explore the nation’s capital, connect with future leaders and bring home experiences that can last a lifetime.

Glades Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperative serving portions of Glades, Hendry, Highlands and Okeechobee counties in Florida’s Heartland. Founded in 1945, the cooperative is committed to providing reliable electric service while supporting the communities it serves.