Indian Electric Cooperative is excited to announce the co-op and the state will be represented in Washington, D.C. this summer by local students. 

Cleveland High School’s Oliver Sorenson and Karl Dresback were chosen as winners of IEC's annual leadership contest. Annually, rural electric cooperatives across the country select high school juniors to represent their communities at Youth Tour. The students join more than 2,000 young leaders from across the nation for a weeklong, all-expenses-paid trip to the nation’s capital. While there, they visit national landmarks, meet with congressional representatives and learn what it means to be actively involved citizens.

Students enter the competition by submitting an energy-related essay and creating a short video explaining how IEC powers their lives. Finalists are then invited to the co-op for an in-person interview. Sorenson and Dresback received the highest scores from judges, but it was a close contest.

Runners-up Cheyenne Chuleewah and Emmie McPeak, both of Pawnee, were close behind in scoring. Chuleewah and McPeak were awarded an all-expenses-paid trip to leadership camp in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, in recognition of their efforts. On both trips, these young IEC ambassadors will represent Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives, make new friends and continue developing leadership skills as they enter their senior year of high school.

IEC would like to thank the educators who advocate for Youth Tour and annually encourage bright, young students to participate. A special thanks this year to teachers of the finalists – Cleveland’s Lana Ingalls, and Pawnee’s Erin Brown.