Powering Young Minds: A Look Back at MVEA’s Youth Programs in 2025

At Mountain View Electric Association, supporting the next generation is more than a goal – it’s a year-round commitment. Throughout 2025, MVEA was proud to connect with hundreds of local students through hands-on learning, creative opportunities, leadership experiences, and financial support, all designed to spark curiosity and build bright futures.

We kicked off the fun with our Electrical Safety Coloring Contest, inviting elementary students to show off their creativity while learning about electrical safety. The response was outstanding! In 2025, we received 246 entries from 23 schools across MVEA’s service territory. Winning participants took home Kindle Fires and a few of their coloring pages were turned into custom lightbulb-shaped stickers.

Safety and hands-on learning remained a top priority through Story Behind the Switch, MVEA’s interactive electricity demonstration for elementary schools. Using engaging tools like a Van de Graaff generator and plasma ball, students learned how electricity gets from the power plant to their homes, the importance of energy efficiency, and how to stay safe around electricity. In 2025, 488 students took part in this fun and educational program.

Education and opportunity continued with our Scholarship Program, where MVEA awarded $28,000 in scholarship funds through 24 different scholarships. From traditional college paths to technical schools, and lineworker careers, we were thrilled to support both traditional and non-traditional students. With 127 applications submitted, it’s clear that local students are eager to power their futures – and we’re proud to help them along the way.

Leadership took center stage with the Youth Leadership Trip Program, offering all-expenses-paid experiences to the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., and the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp in Steamboat Springs. These trips connect students from across the country, teaching them about cooperative values, civic engagement, and leadership. In 2025, four MVEA high school students were selected for leadership trips with two traveling to Washington, D.C., and two heading to Steamboat Springs.

From crayons to classrooms to cross-country leadership trips, MVEA was proud to support the next generation of co-op members throughout 2025. We look forward to continuing these youth programs in 2026 and hope to see even more students participate in the year ahead. To learn more about MVEA’s youth programs and how to get involved, visit www.mvea.coop/youth-programs.