Electric Cooperative Youth Tour
Washington D.C.

The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has brought high school students to Washington, D.C. every June since the late 1950s. Students compete for slots for this unique opportunity and are selected for this program by their local electric cooperative.

The statewide Youth Tour directors (Kansas Electric Cooperatives) arrange the Kansas delegation's visits to our U.S. Representatives' and Senators' offices, federal agencies, and other educational and sightseeing activities. In addition to the planned statewide activities, the Youth Tour experience encompasses multi-state activities coordinated by NRECA.

Victory Electric sponsors two 11th grade students from our district to travel to Washington D.C., every year. Student are chosen based on three criteria: 1) Application and Resume 2) Multiple choice test and 3) Interview with judges.

For more information on the Youth Tour,
click here.

Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp Steamboat Springs, CO

Victory Electric sponsors two students to attend Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp, a week-long event in Steamboat Springs, Colorado developed by professionals to develop speaking skills, engage in leadership activities, learn about democracy and learn about the many facets of the electric industry, in particular the cooperative (co-op) business model. Participants engage in development activities with 100 other attendees from high schools in Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming.

A gondola ride up Mt. Werner, a side trip to Fish Creek Falls, and a variety of attractions in Steamboat are all part of the festivities. Other trip highlights include a live raptor presentation, an insider’s tour of Craig Station; the largest coal fired electric generating plant in Colorado, and the Trapper Coal Mine.

Kansas ElectroRally

Victory Sponsors local high schools to participate in the Kansas ElectroRally competition.

Kansas high school teams design, build and race electric vehicles (EV). The EVs are single-driver, lightweight, aerodynamic, high efficiency, electric race cars with three or four wheels of 16" diameter or larger. The EVs are powered by deep cycle lead acid battery packs with a maximum weight of 64 pounds. The ElectroRally competition is based on time and distance, and the race is won by the team that completes the most laps in one hour. Strategy is as important as speed - drive fast to do many laps or go slower, conserve battery and last the whole race. These EVs can reach speeds in excess of 30 mph and travel a distance of 25 miles in the one hour period.

Most Kansas ElectroRally teams build their cars from the ground up using lightweight components such as aluminum frames and bicycle wheels. Motors and controls are generally smaller versions of the same technology used in full size EVs. With only a few rules and guidelines, the student teams are allowed much flexibility in the design and composition of their vehicles.

First year teams race in the novice class which only includes teams with no previous race experience. The advanced class includes teams with previous race experience.

Below is a drawing of just one possible car design.

For more information on the Kansas Electrorally, Click Here.

For more information on the national program, Electrathon America, Click Here.