(WASHINGTON, DC) - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education today announced the names of the two D.C. public school students who have been selected as delegates to the 52nd annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) that will be held March 8 – 15, 2014 in Washington, D.C.  Maria Bayon and Malachi Byrd were chosen from the District of Columbia to be part of the group of 104 student delegates who will attend the program’s 52nd annual Washington Week.

 

The USSYP was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 and has been sponsored by the Senate and fully funded by The Hearst Foundations since inception. Originally proposed by Senators Kuchel, Mansfield, Dirksen and Humphrey, the impetus for the program as stated in Senate testimony was “to increase young Americans’ understanding of the interrelationships of the three branches of government, the caliber and responsibilities of federally elected and appointed officials, and the vital importance of democratic decision making not only for America but for people around the world.” 

 

Each year this extremely competitive merit-based program brings 104 of the most outstanding high school students — two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity — to Washington, D.C. for an intensive week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it. The overall mission of the program is to help instill within each class of USSYP student delegates more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service. In addition to the program week, The Hearst Foundations provide each of the 104 student delegates with a $5,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs. Transportation and all expenses for Washington Week are also provided by The Hearst Foundations, as stipulated in S.Res.324; no government funds are utilized.

 

Maria "Manuela" Bayon is a senior at Woodrow Wilson High School, serves as the Student Body president and has been on student government since 9th grade. She is the SciMaTech Academy (science, math, and technology) president, and captain of the annual Blood Drive at Wilson where she has been a coordinator/organizer for the past four years. Maria participates in basketball and rowing, and has earned varsity letters in both those sports as well as volleyball. Maria plans on joining the U.S. Navy after studying mechanical engineering in college.

 

Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy senior Malachi Byrd serves as co-president of Student Government. He is an OSSE Scholar alumnus and passionate spoken word poet. He plans to major in sociology and economics to tackle inequities in urban environments by thoroughly understanding the people and the systematic structure of big cities. He aims to become the first Senator of Washington D.C. when it becomes a state.

 

Chosen as alternates from the District of Columbia to the 2014 program were Camilo Rivera who attends Lab School of Washington and Daniel Spruill who attends Friendship Collegiate Academy Public Charter School.

 

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education in the District selects the delegates after receiving nominations by teachers and principals from traditional public, public charter, and private schools.

 

While in Washington the student delegates will attend meetings and briefings with Senators and Congressional staff, the President, a Justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, an Ambassador to the United States and top members of the national media. The students will also tour many of the national monuments and several museums and they will stay at the historic Mayflower Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C.

 

In addition to outstanding leadership abilities and a strong commitment to volunteer work, the student delegates rank academically in the top one percent of their states among high school juniors and seniors.  Now more than 5,000 strong, alumni of the program continue to excel and develop impressive qualities that are often directed toward public service. Among the many distinguished alumni are: Senator Susan Collins, the first delegate to be elected U.S. Senator; New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, the first delegate to be elected governor; Congressman Cory Gardner, the first delegate to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives; former Chief Judge Robert Henry, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit; former Ambassador to West Germany Richard Burt, and former Presidential Advisors Thomas "Mack" McLarty and Karl Rove.  Additional notables include former Lt. Governor of Idaho David LeRoy, former President of the Progressive Policy Institute Robert Shapiro, military officers, members of state legislatures, Foreign Service officers, top congressional staff, healthcare providers and university educators.

 

Members of the USSYP 2014 52nd annual Senate Advisory Committee are:

 

Co-Chairs:  Senator Jon Tester of Montana and Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee;

 

Advisory Committee:  Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, Senator Patty Murray of Washington, Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico, Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota, Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama and Senator David Vitter of Louisiana.  Each year, the Honorary Co-Chairs of the program are the Vice President of the United States and the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders.