United StateS Senate YoUth Program 53 rd AnnuAl WAshington Week WA s h i n g t o n , D. C. H MArCh 7-14, 2015 H SponSored by the United StateS Senate Funded and administered by the hearst Foundations www.ussenAteyouth.org hoW to appLy 104 STUDENTS WILL BE SELECTED FOR A Applications, generally made in late summer WEEK-LONG GOVERNMENT AND LEADERSHIP and early fall, may be obtained from high EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL school principals, school counselors or the state-level selection contact. All state selection AND A ONE-TIME $5,000 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP. contacts and deadlines are listed on the USSYP website: www.ussenateyouth.org. Application The United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution in 1962 creating deadline dates vary by state. the UNITED STATES SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM, a national initiative to provide a yearly opportunity for talented young people with demonstrated hoW to QUaLiFy leadership abilities to deepen their understanding of America’s political Two student delegates and a first and second processes and strengthen their resolve to pursue careers in public service. alternate will be selected from each state and the The United States Senate Youth Program brings the highest-level officials from District of Columbia by the Chief State School Officer in each state. The Hearst Foundations will each branch of government together with an outstanding group of high school provide $1,000 to each state-level department of students— two high school juniors or seniors from each of the fifty states, the education to assist with the selection expenses for District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity the program. In addition, The Hearst Foundations (DoDEA)— during an intensive week-long educational program held in provide a rigorous public affairs examination that Washington, D.C. The program is merit-based and highly competitive. Each states may use as part of the selection process. student also receives a one-time $5,000 undergraduate college scholarship The office of the Department of Defense Education withencouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science. Activity will be responsible for the selection and confirmation of DoDEA delegates and alternates. Now in its fifty-third year, the program has been fully funded since inception Military dependents who reside and attend schools by THE HEARST FOUNDATIONS as part of the Foundations’ continuing in the United States may apply for the program commitment to preparing young people for citizenship and leadership in under the RESIDENCY ruling as shown below. our participatory democracy. More than 5,000 strong, United States Senate Alternate delegates will be selected as replace- Youth Program alumni go on to serve the country in many ways, often in ments if a primary delegate is unable to participate senior national leadership positions. in Washington Week. If the primary delegate is unable to attend, The Hearst Foundations must be notified in advance.Attendance during the Washington Week program is required to receive the financial scholarship; appropriate the proGraM disposition of scholarship funds will be determined rd by the Program Director in the event of health or the 53 annUal United StateS Senate YoUth Program other emergency in the immediate family will be held march 7-14, 2015 precluding attendance at the program. The 104 student delegates will be immersed In addition to outstanding leadership Selection will be based on the student’s out- standing abilities and demonstrated qualities of in Washington activities throughout the abilities and a strong commitment to leadership in an elected or appointed high school week. Delegates will hear major policy public service, the students generally rank student office for the 2014-2015 school year. addresses by Senators, cabinet members, academically in the top percentile of A student who graduates high school at the close officials of the Departments of State and their states. They continue to excel and of the fall 2014 semester/quarter is not eligible to Defense and directors of federal agencies, develop impressive qualities that are often apply for the program, and students must be residing in the U.S. during the 2015 spring as well as participate in a meeting with a directed toward public service. Among semester to participate. Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Each the many distinguished former program 1. Any high school junior or senior student is session with elected officials includes an delegates are Senator Susan Collins of eligible for the program provided he or she has in-depth question and answer period. Maine, the first program delegate elected not previously been a delegate to Washington to the Senate; New Jersey Governor Week and has not received a USSYP scholar- The Hearst Foundations will pay all Christopher Christie; Congressman Cory ship. The student is required to be currently expenses for Washington Week, including Gardner of Colorado; former Chief Judge serving in an elected or appointed capacity in transportation, hotel and meals (see Robert Henry, U.S. Court of Appeals; former any one of the following student government, civic or educational organizations: numbers 3 and 4 under “Rules”). Ambassador to West Germany Richard Burt a. Student Body president, vice president, A registered nurse will be available to and former Presidential Advisors Thomas secretary or treasurer delegates at all times and a physician will “Mack” McLarty and Karl Rove. Additional b. Class president, vice president, secretary be on immediate call throughout the week. distinguished alumni are: former Lt. or treasurer The military services will provide specially Governor of Idaho David Leroy, military c. Student Council representative selected men and women officers to serve officers, Foreign Service Officers, members d. Student representative elected or appointed as mentors for the student delegates while of State Legislatures, top congressional staff, (appointed by a panel, commission or in Washington, D.C. healthcare providers and university educators. board) to a district, regional or state-level H civic and/or educational organization 2. No arrangements for individual religious approved by the state selection administrator. practices or services other than dietary SchoLarShip rULeS guidelines will be made during Washington 2. Each student must be a resident of the Week. This policy will be strictly observed a. The $5,000 college scholarship and atten- United States and currently enrolled in a from the time the student delegates arrive dance at the Washington Week program public or private secondary school located in at the Washington area airports, train are one, inseparable award. Delegates must the state (including for these purposes the stations and program site until they participate in the Washington Week program District of Columbia) in which at least one of return to their home sites. in order to receive the financial scholarship. If a his or her parents or guardians currently selected student is unable to participate in the resides. A student attending a school which 3. The Chief State School Officer from each Washington Week program due to health or is located in a state other than the state of state, the District of Columbia and other emergency circumstances, merits of his or residence of either one of such student’s Department of Defense Education Activity her reasons will be considered by the Program parents or guardians is not eligible. must submit in writing to The Hearst Director relative to scholarship awards. Foundations by DECEMBER 1, 2014 the Exceptions to the residency requirement will b. Students are required to enroll at an accredited names of their two delegates and alternates. only be made in the following cases: United States college or university within two Upon state confirmation of delegates and years after high school graduation. Scholarship a. Students from Department of Defense alternates, the program requires each delegate funds may also be designated through an Education Activity overseas will represent to submit a statement of participation to be accredited United States college or university the state(s) of which the parents/guardians signed by his or her parents or legal guardians. account for attendance at another accredited are U.S. legal voting residents. Students A full informational packet, including a copy of campus, institution or center. The student is attending DoD schools in the U.S. or the rules and scholarship regulations and other encouraged to include history, political science students enrolled through U.S. military pertinent information relating to the delegate’s or related subjects in his or her undergraduate bases in local schools will represent the stay in Washington, D.C. will then be forwarded program. state in which their school is located. to each family. c. Eligible students must complete the United b. Students may reside in a state other than 4. The Hearst Foundations will arrange States Senate Youth Program Application for the state in which they attend school if transportation to and from Washington, D.C. It Grant of Scholarship form, have it signed by the they are enrolled in the only designated will be the responsibility of the parents or legal dean of admissions or registrar, affixed with the public high school available to them in a guardians to transport (at their expense) each college or university’s official seal, and provide school district that legally crosses contigu- delegate to and from the nearest commercial the original forms to The Hearst Foundations. ous state borders through legal interstate airport or train station to their hometown. agreement. Students in these schools shall The Department of Defense Education Activity d. The $5,000 scholarship is designated for the make application to the program through will provide round-trip transportation for the specified student’s education expense and must the state where the high school is located DoDEA delegates from their homes to be used within four years after enrollment.