Youth Summer Camp/Rally

Step 1.Who is eligible to attend?

High school sophomores and juniors are eligible to attend as long as their parents or legal guardians receive power from ICUA or UAMPS member utilities.

Step 2.How does Los Alamos DPU fit in?

The DPU is a member of UAMPS, a joint-action governmental agency providing energy services to its 50 community-owned power system members located throughout the intermountain western states.

Step 3.Tell me about the scholarship opportunity

Students who are awarded UAMPS Sponsorships through the essay contest will also receive $500 college scholarships. Additionally, while at the ICUA Youth Rally, youth will work in teams to solve business challenges and political issues. They will be evaluated on class engagement, participation, teamwork, leadership, and overcoming obstacles. Scholarships will be based on these evaluations.

Step 1.What about the essay?

UAMPS is sponsoring four students to attend the youth rally who will be selected based on essays submitted to UAMPS member utilities. Sponsorships will be awarded to essay contest winners who desire to learn more about the electric industry and who plan to attend a post-secondary educational institution.

In Los Alamos, a panel of judges from DPU will read, review and score submissions. The top scoring essay will be forwarded to UAMPS for sponsorship consideration.

Essay entries should interpret one or more aspects of the theme "Consumer-Owned Utilities: How Public Power Utilities are Different from Investor-Owned Utilities." Judges will look for originality and the relevance of the theme to the writer and his/her consumer-owned utility.

Essays must be original, 500-750 words in length, typed and double-spaced. They must include a cover page with the writer's name, year in school (sophomore or junior), and mailing address. 

Step 2.What do the sponsorships include?

The UAMPS sponsorships cover most expenses to attend the ICUA Youth Rally.

• Transportation between Salt Lake City and Caldwell, Idaho
• Lodging
• Meals
• Activities

Sponsorship awardees will be responsible for transportation between their homes and Salt Lake City.

Step 3.What is the submission timeline?

The DPU will accept essays until May 3, 2024. The top local essay will be forwarded to UAMPS no later than May 10, 2024. The UAMPS executive committee will announce its top four essay winners (scholarship/sponsorship recipients) by May 17, 2024. Submissions should be addressed to the Board of Public Utilities at the address below. They may be mailed or hand-delivered.

Board of Public Utilities

Los Alamos County

1000 Central Ave. Suite 130

Los Alamos, NM 87544

Guidelines(PDF, 238KB) Entry Form(PDF, 515KB)