Scholarship and Youth Tour Winners
Throughout the year, McKenzie Electric Cooperative attends events focused around the education of local youth. The primary focus of the cooperative’s attendance is to promote safe electricity use and to educate students about the dangers of electricity while also highlighting the unique attributes of a distribution system. During school visits, job fairs, and hands-on demonstrations, cooperative employees speak about the cooperative business model, career opportunities, and how a member-driven service differs from a standard utility.
The following students were selected as recipients of scholarship awards and as the delegate for Youth Tour 2023 in which a junior or sophomore is selected to represent the cooperative during a weeklong tour of the U.S. Capitol. Determining the recipients for each scholarship and award is inevitably a difficult decision and is based on many factors. McKenzie Electric Cooperative is honored to have the opportunity to play a small part in the education of young adults within our service area. Best wishes and congratulations to all applicants and graduates!
Killdeer High School
Gracie Doe is the 2023 recipient of the McKenzie Electric Cooperative scholarship. Gracie plans to attend North Dakota State University (NDSU) with the intended major of nursing. Once completed with her degree, she hopes to gain experience as a registered nurse and shortly afterwards enroll in a Doctor of Nurse Practice program to pursue a career as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Gracie is the daughter of Jody and Sarah Doe of Killdeer, ND. Congratulations Gracie!
Fairview High School
Chloe Gullikson is the 2023 recipient of the Basin Electric Power Cooperative scholarship. Chloe plans to attend Carroll College with the intended major of psychology. Her career goal is to become a general psychiatrist and form an organization to help farmers and ranchers struggling with mental health in rural, underserved areas. Chloe is the daughter of Doug and Tami Gullikson of Cartwright, ND. Congratulations Chloe!
Watford City High School
Allyson Cross is the 2023 recipient of the Basin Electric, Member Cooperative Employee scholarship. Ally plans to attend the University of Mary with the intended major of nursing. Allyson is the daughter of Bob and Jamie Cross of Watford City, ND. Congratulations Ally!
2023 Youth Tour Delegate
The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour program has brought high school students to Washington, D.C. for a week in June every year since the late 1950s. Students apply and are selected for this program by their local electric cooperative utilizing a third-party ranking system. We believe that students should see their nation’s capital up close, learn about the political process and interact with their elected officials.
Students gain a personal understanding of American history and their role as a citizen by meeting their Representative and Senators. While student groups are organized at the state level, they all come together for Youth Day, where they get to meet each other and hear featured speakers who provide insight to the important roles electric cooperatives play in their communities.
Nearly 50,000 students from rural areas and small towns across America have participated in this program. Some of our Youth Tour alumni have gone on to design airplanes, to lead companies and to serve in the highest ranks of our government, including the U.S. Senate. Don’t be surprised if you run into a former Youth Tour participant who is a congressional aide on Capitol Hill. While several of our alumni work in Washington, you will find even more alumni in your own community.
McKenzie Electric Cooperative’s 2023 Youth Tour Delegate is Maxwell Hanson, son of Matt and Angela Hanson of Watford City, ND. Congratulations Maxwell!
