2 WEEKS LEFT TO APPLY! OPALCO Youth Rally Scholarship Program

San Juan County Students Can Get $1000 in Scholarship Dollars and Gain Leadership Skills this Summer!

Leadership comes in many forms, and no two leaders look the same. For some, leadership might look like being the team captain of your basketball team, for others it shows up through volunteering at local nonprofits or community events. It can also look like guiding meaningful conversations and inspiring others through strong communication. No matter your style, leadership grows through exposure – by learning how others lead and gaining understanding and experience across diverse topics.

Students who attend the OPALCO Youth Rally Scholarship program get the chance to do just that – deepen their understand of a wide range of topics and demonstrate many of the skills that make a good leader. Students spend one week in Idaho attending classes and presentations, meeting new people, learning about the history of cooperative utilities, electricity, and local and federal government, practicing formal interviews, and competing in friendly group tournaments. Students who are chosen to attend the Youth Rally also receive $1000 for a post high school program (college or trade school).

The youth rally leadership camp is a wonderful way to teach and inspire the next generation of leaders. Students get ample opportunities to apply their leadership skills in practical and hands-on ways. For example, every participating student is required to interview with a panel of chaperones throughout the week, and the success of that interview directly correlates to consideration for additional scholarship dollars from the ICUA (Idaho Consumer-Owned Utilities Association).

Additionally, students compete in a team-building event that is made up of multiple physical challenges, known as the ‘Co-opstacle Course’. Activities range from races to puzzle based games where all members of the team have to work together to successfully complete a task. In the moment, these activities are fun and can even be silly, but the skills needed to complete each station are invaluable for being a good leader; like being able to listen to the ideas of your teammates, assign responsibilities among the group, and work together to solve any issues that may come up.

Interested in the program?

High School Sophomores or Juniors in San Juan County whose parents or guardians are members of OPALCO and presently receive electric service are eligible to apply. Since the beginning of the scholarship program, scholarship recipients have been a mix of students from all of the islands. Last year’s group featured students from Orcas and San Juan islands.

Interested students can fill out the application linked on OPALCO’s youth rally webpage, which will direct them to the ICUA application form. Be sure to select Orcas Power and Light Cooperative as your sponsoring electric utility using the dropdown.

Upon completion of the application form, applicants will have an interview with the scholarship committee. Students may be asked to talk about their own interests and goals as well as some questions about their local cooperative utility, OPALCO.

For additional information about the program timeline, application and eligibility details, and interview question examples, visit www.opalco.com/youthrally. Applications are due no later than 4:30 pm on March 27, 2026.