OEC announces Youth Tour and RYLA winners at annual banquet
Oklahoma Electric Cooperative named the 2026 Youth Tour and RYLA winners at its Youth Tour banquet on January 15.
Judges selected four students to represent OEC on an all-expenses-paid Youth Tour trip to Washington, D.C. and honored three finalists by awarding them all-expenses- paid trips to Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, known as RYLA.
Youth Tour winners Kaylee Lore of Newcastle High School, Raegan Boles of Verden High School, Taylor Meeks of Amber-Pocasset High School, and Tia Peery of Lexington High School will spend June 13–19 in Washington, D.C., where they will tour national landmarks, meet with Oklahoma’s congressional delegation and participate in leadership development activities.
Emily Hufhines of Epic Charter School, Ainsley Cook of Mount St. Mary Catholic High School, and Sebastian Smith of Norman High School are this year’s RYLA recipients.
Their experience at Camp RYLA, scheduled for June 15– 19 at Goddard Youth Camp near Sulphur, will focus on leadership training that emphasizes service, teamwork and personal growth.
“This was one of the most competitive years we’ve had,” said Carrie Koesler, OEC Community Outreach associate. “The students delivered thoughtful, confident speeches, and the judges were impressed by how well they communicated their leadership skills and personal connection to their electric cooperative.”
Students achieved finalist status through a competitive application process that required writing an essay on the theme “Powering My Day: How My Electric Cooperative Fuels My Life.”
Finalists presented their essays as speeches at the banquet, where judges selected the Youth Tour delegates and RYLA recipients.
Youth Tour is a nationally recognized program sponsored by electric cooperatives that gives high school juniors the opportunity to experience the nation’s capital while learning about government, leadership and civic responsibility.
RYLA, sponsored by Rotary International’s Oklahoma clubs, is an intensive leadership program that brings together high school students from across the state for hands-on training and leadership development.
Since 1937, Oklahoma Electric Cooperative has provided reliable electric service and proudly supported leadership opportunities across the seven- county service area. Next year’s contest will open later this year.
Visit okcoop.org/youthtour for more information.
