New Mexico’s Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities is conducting an essay contest for high school students as part of an effort organized by Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems.
A local student may receive sponsorship to attend a summer leadership camp and scholarship program in Idaho called the ICUA Youth Rally.
UAMPS will select four students from among its member organizations to send to the rally. Each one will also receive a $500 scholarship for college.
DPU is a member of UAMPS so high school sophomores and juniors whose parents or guardians are customers of DPU are eligible for the UAMPS sponsorships.
The contest is targeted at students who desire to learn more about the electric utility industry.
A Los Alamos student was chosen for one of the sponsorships in both 2023 and 2024.
Organized by the Idaho Consumer Owned Utilities Association, the ICUA Youth Rally will be held at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, ID, from July 7-11, 2025.
Participants will learn about government, consumer-owned utilities and the energy industry, and they will work in teams to solve business challenges and political issues. Among other activities, they will visit the Idaho Capitol and a water park.
To enter the contest, students should interpret one or more aspects of the theme “Consumer-Owned Utilities: The Key Role Linemen Play in the Utility Industry” in 500 to 750 words.
DPU’s panel of judges will look for originality and the relevance of the theme to the writer and DPU.
The top essay will be forwarded to UAMPS for consideration for a sponsorship to cover round-trip expenses between (Salt Lake City, Utah, and Nampa, Idaho) to attend the ICUA Youth Rally and a $500 scholarship.
DPU will accept essays until May 2. UAMPS will announce its sponsorship recipients by May 16.
