After a four month application period, Senior Tyler Hertzler represented southwest Oklahoma at the Youth Power energy trip in Washington D.C. 

Hertzler was one of 50 attendees from Oklahoma and one of two chosen through the Cotton Electric winter essay contest.

Junior English teacher Beverly Cramton has been in charge of informing Marlow students about the essay contest for 14 years.

“I present them with the theme and topic and show them videos of the trip they could win,” Cramton stated. “As they are writing, if they want pointers on how to get started or a creative hook, I bring out samples from the years gone by or we brainstorm.”

After completing essays, students that submit their essays will go through three judged rounds: the essay, an interview and a speech. 

Afterwards, Cotton Electric chooses the top two entries to attend the trip.

While Oklahoma sends a high percentage of the students in attendance, electric companies from 41 states across the United States send students to the capital. Overall 1800 high school juniors get sent to the capital every year.

The attending students participated in various activities throughout the week, such as visiting memorials and the Smithsonian museum.

“Going to Arlington National cemetery was my favorite part of the trip,” Hertzler said. “Getting to see the tomb of the unknown soldier was something that was way up on my bucket list, and it was gorgeous.”

The Washington trip is intended as both a reward for the essay winner’s achievements and to serve as an educational experience, teaching students life skills as well as United States history.

“This trip has taught me how to work well with a group,’’ Hertzler explained. “It was definitely something that I needed for this trip because I went halfway across the country with complete strangers.”

Hertzler will use the skills and experience learned from the trip during his studies at the University of Oklahoma and his career of computer engineering.