OPALCO Wants YOU(TH)!
The Nourdine Jensen Cooperative Youth Scholarship Program supports local students
Every year, a group of students from the San Juan Islands win scholarships and get the opportunity to represent our community at the Idaho Consumer-Owned Utilities Association Youth Rally.
This group of future leaders, thinkers and doers spends a week at the Northwest Nazarene College near Boise with dozens of students from across the Northwest representing their rural electric cooperatives.
The ICUA Youth Rally offers educational courses on life skills, future job options, government and civics, the basics of electricity, leadership skills, team building and more. This all-expense-paid week includes a dance, a talent show, a trip to the water park, a tour of the Idaho State Capitol and other fun community events.
This trip is completely free for the students and looks great on resumes and college applications. Students receive a $1,000 scholarship for college or trade school, and they can earn more scholarships at the rally.
This is a great opportunity for island youths to meet and interact with others their age.
OPALCO Youth Rally History
The OPALCO Board of Directors established the youth scholarship program in 2011 in honor of the longtime dedicated service of former board member Nourdine Jensen.
Nourdine served on the OPALCO board for 37 years, from 1965 to 2008. He was a longtime boat builder and former Friday Harbor town councilman, school board member and port commissioner. He believed in the cooperative model as a way to bring reliable, affordable electricity to the rural islanders of San Juan County.
Through the continuing support of the Jensen family, OPALCO is able to continue offering the scholarship program to the next generation of students.
The program awards five sophomores or juniors from San Juan County with an all-expenses-paid trip to the ICUA Youth Rally in Idaho, as well as $1,000 of scholarship money toward continuing education. Once at the rally, participants get a shot at additional scholarship dollars sponsored by the ICUA by participating in interviews or demonstrating strong leadership capabilities.
Program Rules
Interested in applying? Here’s what you need to know.
Eligibility: The contest is open to all high school sophomores and juniors, or the equivalent, whose parents or guardians are OPALCO members and presently receive electric service from OPALCO.
Contestants must be currently attending school or an alternative program at a San Juan County high school.
Application process: Applications must be submitted online no later than April 23, 2025.
Finalists: Finalists are selected for a personal interview, and the three to five winners are chosen based on that interview. During the interview, students may be asked to talk about their own interests and goals and about the following topics:
• How does OPALCO deliver power to 20 islands? Where does the power come from?
• What makes an electric co-op different from other types of utilities?
• Discuss three important energy issues that may affect you in the next five to 10 years.
• Why should you represent OPALCO at the Youth Rally?
Scholarship recipients: Winners agree to represent OPALCO at the Youth Rally July 6-11, 2025, at Northwest Nazarene University in Idaho. OPALCO pays all travel, lodging and food expenses.
Chaperones are provided.
Winners agree to collaborate on a presentation of their Youth Rally experience to be presented to the board in December.
Winners agree to act as OPALCO ambassadors in their schools and to promote the youth rally and scholarship program.
Enriching the knowledge and experiences of the youth in our community is an investment in the future of our community. OPALCO is so grateful for the continuing generosity of the Jensen family in helping to keep this program alive and giving San Juan County students the opportunity to expand their horizons in such a collaborative way. We can’t wait to meet this year’s group of students.
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