Essay Prompt: Imagine you have been given $500 to design and launch a community-based project that makes a positive impact where you live. Your challenge is to develop a realistic and meaningful project idea that reflects your values and benefits others in your community. Make sure to include one of the seven cooperative principles and tell how it relates to your project.
Essay should outline your project idea, including:
What is your project?
Who or what will it benefit?
Why is it needed in your community?
Explain why your project matters to you.
What personal experiences, values, or observations inspired this project?
Outline your plan from start to finish.
What steps would you take to launch and complete your project?
Connect it to 1 of the 7 Cooperative Principles. Explain how your chosen principle is reflected in your project.
Explain how the $500 would be used - Be realistic and thoughtful in how the funds would be spent to maximize the project’s impact.
Project must include:
Mission statement
Marketing plan
Cooperative principle
Financials
Name your file "YT26_FirstNameLastName" and upload with your application.
Students will submit their online application, essay, and 2-minute video containing the required information by January 21, 2026.
6 applicants will be selected as finalists for the Oklahoma Youth Tour. Judges will choose 2 students to represent AEC at Youth Tour 2026 in Washington, D.C. The judges will also select 2 students to attend the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp in Colorado. All 6 finalists will receive a $500 scholarship at the end of the school year, pending that all requirements are fulfilled.
