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United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Application


Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Program Overview

The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) is a unique and annual educational experience for outstanding high school students interested in pursuing careers in public service. Typically, two student leaders from each state will spend a week in Washington, DC experiencing their national government in action. Student delegates will hear major policy addresses by Senators, cabinet members, officials from the Departments of State and Defense and directors of other federal agencies, as well as participate in a meeting with a Justice of the US Supreme Court. All transportation, hotel and meal expenses will be provided by the Hearst Foundations. In addition, each delegate is awarded a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies, with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science.

The 62nd annual United States Senate Youth Program Washington Week will be held in person in Washington, DC from March 2-9, 2024. Application processes are underway and the national deadline for all states to submit their delegate selections is Dec. 1, 2023. The program may be held online, pending public health guidance and status of large group access to the government venues traditionally visited.

Application Instructions

District of Columbia public, public charter and private high school juniors and seniors who possess a strong interest in government, public service and history are encouraged to apply for the USSYP. Students may qualify to apply through leadership positions they currently hold per the USSYP official criteria for the current 2023-24 academic year ONLY. 

All student leadership positions are subject to the judgment and verification of the state selection administrators.

Examples of qualifying leadership positions are below:

  • Student body president, vice president, secretary or treasurer
  • Class president, vice president, secretary or treasurer
  • Student Council representative
  • A National Honor Society officer (including discipline-based Honor Societies such as the National English and Social Studies Honor Societies that include service components)
  • Student representative elected or appointed (appointed by a panel, commission or board) to a local, district, regional or state-level civic, service and/or educational organization approved by the state selection administrator

Students must submit: 

  1. An application (online via Microsoft Forms)
  2. Official student transcript 
  3. A student essay answering one of the following questions:
  • Current elected student position held and all past involvement in student government / leadership
  • Activities and achievements that demonstrate leadership in school and community that specifically support your desire to serve as your USSYP State delegate;
  • Involvement in community service initiatives or programs outside of school;
  • How your participation in USSYP will enhance your understanding and interest in the political and governmental process of the United States;
    • Share ways in which you think being chosen for the US Senate Youth Program will help you explore some of the most important questions you have at present about the challenges facing the country. NOTE: The essay body must not exceed three pages, double spaced in Times New Roman 12 font, excluding the reference page, with a word limit of 500 words or less per response. References must be cited. Students applying for a second time may not use an essay submitted previously.
  1. A persuasive essay researched and written on a topic of social significance related to a contemporary state, national, or world event. Select a topic important to you, take a stand, relate its import to you and defend your position. The essay will be judged on organization, ideas and content, evidence of personalization and writing conventions including citation of sources. NOTE: The essay must not exceed one page, double spaced in Times New Roman 12 font.
  2. A video presentation on this topic: Imagine that you are a newly elected Senator from the District of Columbia. Describe who you are and why you are proud to represent the District of Columbia. Tell us the personal characteristics you feel will make you an effective leader in the District. Note what legislative initiatives you will champion and why they are important to you and your constituents. Please note any historical leadership figures you would like to emulate. NOTE: Prepare a short video presentation, no more than three minutes in length, as part of the 2024 application, to be judged for public speaking skill, vocabulary, originality, organization of presentation, knowledge of any material or content presented, clarity of artwork (charts, graphs, slides if used) and overall presentation.
  3. Two letters of recommendation must be provided:

    1. Letter from your high school principal or counselor

    2. Letter from an adult advisor of the organization or student body entity with which you currently hold an officer position

  4. REQUIRED: Parents or guardians must sign below to approve attendance to Washington, DC for a week to attend the United States Senate Youth Program under the conditions set forth in the rules and regulations of the program brochure.

Application Deadline

Please be sure to follow the instructions and to ask questions if necessary. All deadlines and instructions must be strictly followed.

The application process is as follows:

  • Students will submit their application electronically. The deadline to submit is Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.
  • The application will ask for the name and email addresses of two representatives who will provide letters of recommendation: (1) the principal and/or counselor who will sign off on the student’s participation in Washington Week and (2) the adult advisor of the organization of student body entity with which the student currently hold an officer position Please express a preference for the recommenders to submit the transcript and letters of recommendation online or by mail. If the student is younger than age 18, a parent/guardian/responsible adult must send an email to Greg Palmer at [email protected], acknowledging and corroborating this choice. No follow-up with principals, counselors, or adult advisors will occur without this corroborating email.
  • Within three business days, the student will receive a link to an online folder where the student will be able to submit their essay, statement of leadership, and resume. Please do not share this link with anyone. The folders are secure but will be available to anyone with the link.
  • If students elect to allow their principal/counselor/adult advisor to submit the transcript and letters of recommendation online, the recommenders will be sent a link to another secure folder in which to deposit these materials. If the student has opted to have these materials mailed in, they must be sent to the address below. Submission of these materials constitutes permission for the student to attend Washington Week, from March 2 - 9, 2024. All materials must be received, whether electronically or by mail, by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.
  • Applicants must keep up with the submission of materials.

Application Deadline

All applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

If transcripts and letters of recommendation are being mailed, please send to:

Greg Palmer
Office of the State Superintendent of Education
Division of Postsecondary and Career Education
1050 First St., NE Fifth Floor
Washington, DC 20002

Special Notes

  • If any of the above is missing from the final application packet, the application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.
  • There is not a limit on how many students apply from each DC public, charter and private high school.
  • If an applicant becomes a semifinalist, the student must be able to participate in an interview. Interviews will be virtual and sign-ups are on a first come, first served basis. If the applicant is not able to make the interview date due to extenuating circumstances, they must communicate this to Greg Palmer ([email protected]) as soon as possible.

Timeline

  • Applications will be received until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. All applications received are considered final. Please only submit one application per student.
  • Semifinalists will be contacted in early November to schedule their interview.
  • Interviews will take place in early November.
  • OSSE will notify the USSYP Program of the selection of two delegates and two alternates in early December.
  • The USSYP Program and the Hearst Foundations will announce the two delegates and two alternates from each state in December. Upon receiving confirmation of the DC selections, OSSE will also notify all applicants of their status via email.
  • The two delegates from the District of Columbia will attend Washington Week during the week of March 2-9, 2024. Please visit the program website for more information about Washington Week, program rules and scholarship rules.

For more information or questions, please contact Greg Palmer, state selection coordinator, at [email protected].


Additional Resources