LAHS Sophomore Mackenzie Adams. Courtesy/LAC

COUNTY News:

Two Los Alamos High School students will head to Idaho this summer to build leadership skills, make new friends, and explore the future of energy—thanks to a regional youth rally scholarship opportunity sponsored by the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) and offered locally through the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU).

Sophomore Mackenzie Adams and Junior Beau Ward were selected for the opportunity following an essay contest on the theme “Consumer-Owned Utilities: Why Having a Diverse Power Portfolio is Important to Utilities.”

Their essays were first reviewed by DPU staff and then forwarded to UAMPS, which chose to sponsor both students. As part of the award, Adams and Ward will each receive a $500 college scholarship in addition to the trip.

This summer, the students will travel to Nampa, Idaho, to participate in the week-long Idaho Consumer Owned Utilities Association Youth Rally. There, they will join high school students from across the region to learn about government, consumer-owned utilities, and the evolving energy industry while also enjoying a full schedule of summer activities, team-building events and social time.

LAHS Junior Beau Ward. Courtesy/LAC 

The DPU’s membership in UAMPS opens this opportunity to local high school students each year. This is the fourth year that students from Los Alamos High School have been selected to attend the rally. Previous awardees were Mila Moseley in 2025 and Asher Koh in 2023 and 2024.

The DPU shares information about this annual opportunity each spring at https://ladpu.com/youthrally.