2026 Youth Tour Winners

Celebrating Our 2026 Youth Tour Participants

We’re proud to recognize this year’s outstanding students selected for our 2026 Youth Tour program! These students stood out for their leadership, academic achievements, and commitment to their communities.

Each year, electric cooperatives sponsor local high school students to attend the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour—an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. This once-in-a-lifetime experience gives students the opportunity to learn about the cooperative business model, explore our nation’s capital, meet elected officials, and connect with peers from across the country.

After reviewing applications and conducting interviews with five impressive finalists, we are excited to announce this year’s recipients:

Youth Tour Winner

Jael Lopez Garcia, Edgerton Public School
Parents: Luis & Vanessa Garcia

$500 Scholarship Recipient

Mikayla Reith, Murray County Central
Parents: Mike Reith & Danielle Sonstegard

$150 Award Recipient

Nevaeh Echternach, Fulda High School
Parents: Scott & Kimberly Echternach

“These students represented themselves, their schools, and their communities extremely well,” said Tracey Haberman, Member Services Manager. “We are proud to support young leaders and provide opportunities like the Youth Tour that broaden perspectives and encourage civic engagement.”

We’d also like to thank all of the students who applied this year—the future is bright! If you weren’t selected this time, we encourage you to apply again in the future.

👉 Learn more about the Youth Tour program:
www.nobles.coop/youth-tour