Resumes, friends and waterslides at OPALCO’s scholarship and rally

College-resume building, making friends and screaming down an avalanche water slide are a few scenes from the 2012 Orcas Power and Light Cooperative’s Nourdine Jensen Cooperative Youth Scholarship Program and Youth Rally. The scholarship program will award three high-school sophomores or juniors with a $500 scholarship and all-expenses paid trip to the Youth Rally leadership camp at the College of Idaho this summer.

February 23, 2012 4:11 pm
2011 OPALCO Scholarship Award Winners: Susanne Mietzner
2011 OPALCO Scholarship Award Winners: Susanne Mietzner

College-resume building, making friends and screaming down an avalanche water slide are a few scenes from the 2012 Orcas Power and Light Cooperative’s Nourdine Jensen Cooperative Youth Scholarship Program and Youth Rally. The scholarship program will award three high-school sophomores or juniors with a $500 scholarship and all-expenses paid trip to the Youth Rally leadership camp at the College of Idaho this summer.

“The Youth Rally was a fantastic experience,” says Susanne Mietzner, 2011 scholarship winner.  “I learned a lot about how the political process and co-ops work, made some great friends that I’m still in touch with – and we had a ton of fun together. I’m pretty shy but I was welcomed with open arms and made to feel I was a part of something amazing.”

This year, the three students from San Juan County, along with an OPALCO chaperone, will join with up to 100 peers from rural electric co-ops in Idaho, Alaska, Oregon and Wyoming for a packed schedule of social and leadership building activities including a water park visit, roller skating, an ice-cream social, bowling, dances and a talent show. The rally, established in 1986, is hosted by the Idaho Consumer Utilities Association.

All sophomores and juniors from OPALCO member households are eligible to apply to the scholarship program. The competition guide book and application are available online at www.opalco.com. Scholarship winners will be chosen based on a personal interview and will receive their awards at OPALCO’s 75th annual meeting on the ferry scheduled for Saturday, May 5. Applications must be received by 4:30 p.m., Friday, March 23.

Last year’s recipients were Connar Smith of Friday Harbor High School, who received $800 in scholarships and was elected by his peers to return to the youth rally in 2012 as a youth director, Samantha Swanson of Spring Street International School, who received $1,000 in scholarships and Mietzner of Orcas Island High School, who received $1,000 in scholarships.

The OPALCO Board of Directors established the scholarship program in honor of Nourdine Jensen, a long-time board member and advocate for the Cooperative.