SENATOR COLLINS ANNOUNCES 2011 SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM

U.S. Senator Susan Collins is pleased to announce that the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) has begun its statewide selection process for 2011. Two outstanding Maine high school students will be selected to join other delegates from each state and the District of Columbia to spend a week in Washington, D.C. observing the federal government in action. Each student delegate will receive a $5,000 undergraduate college scholarship, in addition to the all-expenses paid trip to Washington.

"I have the honor and the privilege of being the first delegate to the United States Senate Youth Program elected to the U.S. Senate," said Senator Collins. "My commitment to public service was reinforced as a senior in high school when I was chosen as a delegate and traveled to Washington and met with Senator Margaret Chase Smith. I encourage all interested high school students to apply to participate in this worthwhile program."

Since USSYP was founded in 1962, more than 4,500 students have participated. The program is fully funded by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation - no government funds are utilized.

The students will visit Capitol Hill, the White House, the Pentagon, the State Department, the Supreme Court, and other places in Washington. They will also meet with Senators, cabinet officials, and government leaders.

The delegate selection is administered by each state's chief school officer in cooperation with high school principals. Delegates must be junior or senior elected student officers for the 2010-2011 academic year and reside in the state where they attend school. Eligibility considerations may also be made for student representatives elected or selected to district, regional, or state-level civic or educational organizations.

Each student must be a permanent resident of the United States and be currently enrolled in a public or private secondary school located in the state in which either one of his or her parents or guardians legally resides.

USSYP reports that the Maine selection deadline is October 15, 2010. Names of the students selected will be formally announced in mid-December. Interested students in Maine should contact their high school principal or the state-level selection administrator below:

Ms. Jana Boody-Billings
Social Studies Specialist & Regional Representative
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
(207) 624-6828
Jana.Boody@maine.gov

The USSYP 2011 program brochure contains detailed rules and additional information about the selection process, and it may be accessed at www.ussenateyouth.org.

 

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