United States Senate Youth Program

The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) is an annual scholarship competition sponsored jointly by the U.S. Senate and the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.

After a testing and interview process, two high school students are selected from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense's overseas educational activities. In addition to a $10,000 scholarship, each receives a week-long trip to Washington, D.C.

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[MUSIC] Welcome to DoDEA News in a Minute, I'm Andrew Holloway. Each year two students are selected from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity as representatives of their regions in the U.S. Senate Youth Program. This year Makayla Palazzo, a senior at Kubasaki High School in Okinawa, Japan, and Danari White, a junior at Seoul American High School in South Korea were chosen as DoDEA's representatives. There is also a DoDEA student from the states who was chosen by Kentucky to represent her state, Kayla Rowsey of Fort Knox High School. For one week these students got the chance to meet and learn from the highest level elected and appointed officials in Washington, D.C. I really was excited to see John Kerry, I want to work for the State Department, so it was just great and I felt so honored to be in his presence, so it was exciting. I live in Fort Knox, Kentucky, so my senator is Rand Paul, and after the recent filibuster, I didn't think he was going to come. It was getting to be the last final minutes of the Senate reception, and when he walked in, I was just overwhelmed and so excited to meet him. These 104 students were chosen based on their exceptional academic performance and proven leadership abilities. They represent the best and the brightest across the country. The future is ours. And I know it's a cliché but it's so true. To be interested in it now is very critical because it's in our hands where our country goes, and all of the patterns it will take, and whether history will repeat itself or not, is really up to the actions we take. Each student brings their own experiences and stories to the group. However, according to the Program Director for the U.S. Senate Youth Program, DoDEA students bring a perspective, which is unique to the group. In addition to their academic excellence and their incredible well-roundedness they bring the perspective of having lived overseas, having seen America from abroad and also having been the children of military families who are giving the ultimate service to the country and all of that combined is an incredibly important part of this program. Each of the students will also receive a five thousand dollar undergraduate college scholarship to the college or university of their choice with encouragement to continue coursework in government and history. That's all for this edition of DoDEA News in a Minute, thanks for watching. [MUSIC]

History

External videos
27th Annual U.S. Senate Youth Program, February 3, 1989, C-SPAN
Speech to the Senate Youth Program by USSR Deputy Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Chetverikov, February 5, 1992, C-SPAN
Speech to the Senate Youth Program by Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Vladimir Lukin, February 4, 1993, C-SPAN
Interview with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) on her experiences as part of the Senate Youth Program, March 6, 2012, C-SPAN
Q&A interview with Senate Youth Program participants, March 9, 2012, C-SPAN
Q&A interview with Brian Kamoie, discussing his presentation to the Senate Youth Program, May 8, 2012, C-SPAN
Q&A interview with Senate Youth Program participants, March 15, 2013, C-SPAN
Q&A interview with Senate Youth Program participants, March 14, 2014, C-SPAN
Q&A interview with Senate Youth Program participants, March 13, 2015, C-SPAN
Q&A interview with Senate Youth Program participants, March 11, 2016, C-SPAN
Q&A interview with Senate Youth Program participants, March 10, 2017, C-SPAN
Q&A interview with Senate Youth Program participants, March 2018, C-SPAN
Q&A interview with Senate Youth Program participants, April 1, 2018
Q&A interview with Senate Youth Program participants, April 21, 2019, C-SPAN

In 1962, senators Everett Dirksen, Hubert Humphrey, Tom Kuchel, and Mike Mansfield introduced S.R. 324 to the Senate floor, which created the program. The resolution was passed on May 17, 1962 and signed into law by John F. Kennedy. In 1981, the resolution was amended to provide for the participation of the Department of Defense Education Activity. The Hearst Foundation has provided funding for the program since its inception.

Organization and administration

The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) is fully funded by the Hearst Foundation with the aim of discovering, equipping, and inspiring the next generation of local, state, and national leaders.

All student delegates to the United States Senate Youth Program are selected by state-level education officials – the United States Senate and The Hearst Foundations do not provide individual states’ applications or choose the delegates and alternates. Student delegates are usually selected by their State Department of Education through rigorous application processes.

Washington Week

Selected student delegates receive a week-long trip to Washington, D.C. Each year, this trip, which is referred to as "Washington Week," provides an intensive study of government for the 104 students in each year's national delegation. While there, delegates attend meetings and briefings with senators, members of the House of Representatives, Congressional staff, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, an ambassador to the United States, and members of the media.

At the conclusion of Washington Week, student delegates in attendance receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship.^[1]