SENATOR COLLINS PRESENTS JUSTICE SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR WITH DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD

U.S. Senator Susan Collins presented former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor with the Rosalie Wynn Hearst Distinguished Public Service Award Friday on behalf of the U.S. Senate Youth Alumni Association.  The award was presented during the Association's 12th annual reception and dinner in Washington.  Senator Collins also gave remarks during the tribute to Justice O'Connor. The U.S. Senate Youth Program, now in its 48th year, selects exceptional high school students from across the country each year to attend a week-long seminar on American government in Washington.  The program is sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, and the award is named for Rosalie Wynn Hearst, who served as an unofficial "mom" to the visiting students for more than 34 years.  Senator Collins attended the Senate Youth Program's Week in Washington in 1971 as a senior at Caribou High School.  During her visit, she met then Senator Margaret Chase Smith, whom she credits with inspiring her own career in public service.  Senator Collins is the first U.S. Senate Youth Program alumnus to be elected to the U.S. Senate. At Friday's event, Senator Collins also visited with two Maine alumni of the program, Monike Santana of Portland and Ryan Gavin of Biddeford.