United States Senate Youth Program – Delaware
Scholarship Overview: Delaware high school junior or senior who demonstrates leadership through public service and is interested in attending a leadership program in washington dc.
Application Available: August 1, 2023
Deadline Date: October 13, 2023
Scholarship Details:
The U.S Senate Youth program is a national nonpartisan initiative to provide an annual opportunity for talented high school students with demonstrated leadership abilities to deepen their understanding of America’s political processes and strengthen their resolve to pursue careers in public service. The USSYP brings the highest-level officials from each branch of government to meet with this outstanding group of young leaders — two high school juniors or seniors from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) — for an intensive week-long education and leadership program to be held in Washington, D.C., March 2 – 9, 2024.The program is merit-based and highly competitive. Each student will also receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science. Now in its 62nd year, the program has been fully funded since inception by The Hearst Foundations as an enduring commitment to preparing young people for civic leadership in our participatory democracy.
Selection Process:
- Students submit their completed application to their high school counselor.
- Each Delaware high school selects one student as their school’s nominee for the USSYP.
- School counselors email their school nominee’s completed application with all required attachments, links, and signatures in one email to Michael Feldman by the application deadline, Friday, October 13, 2023.
- Students selected for the semi-finalist and finalist rounds will be notified by Delaware’s USSYP selection committee, via the email address provided in their application.
- Students selected as Delaware’s USSYP delegates will be notified after December 1, 2023.
How to Qualify:
Qualified junior or senior high school students must show demonstrated leadership through public service in elected or appointed positions in organizations that relate to government, public affairs, history, and/or community service. To quality, students must meet the following criteria:
- Must be currently serving in an elected or appointed position representing a constituency during the entire 2023-2024 school year: see USSYP Brochure for qualifying positions,
- Will be attending a Delaware high school and reside with at least one parent/guardian in Delaware for the entire 2023-2024 school year,
- Must be able to attend the entire 2024 in-person Washington Week, March 2-9, 2024
- Must submit a completed application that includes all of the following:
- Signed documentation of serving in an elected or appointed leadership position for the entire 2023-2024 school year
- Two original essays
- One original video presentation
- Signed parent/guardian consent for Washington Week, March 2-9, 2024
- Two signed letters of recommendation. One from their high school principal or teacher and one from an adult representative from the organization where the student has a record of leadership.
- Copy of their school transcript
- Residency: Each student must be a permanent resident of the United States and currently enrolled in a public or private secondary school located in Delaware and reside with at least one of their parents or guardians in Delaware for the entire school year.
- From the USSYP: Exceptions to the residency requirement will only be made in the following cases: Students may reside in a state other than the state in which they attend school if they are enrolled in the only designated public high school available to them in a school district that legally crosses contiguous state borders through legal interstate agreement. Students in these schools shall make application to the program through the state where the high school is located and shall represent that state if selected. *In Delaware, this only applies to the Delmar School District.
Application Requirements: Delaware Residents Only, Essay, Letter(s) of Recommendation, Video
Essay Details:
Each student must complete each of the following two essays. Each essay must be:
• submitted in the space below,
• 500 words or less,
• single-spaced,
• 12-point Times New Roman font,
• the student’s original work, and
• include citations of sources (when appropriate).
*All essays submitted will be held to the highest standards of academic integrity. Any detection of plagiarism or use of artificial intelligence (e.g., ChatGPT) will result in the application’s disqualification and the student’s school will be contacted.
Essay 1 of 2
Describing each of the following elements as they pertain to you:
• Current elected student position held and all past involvement in student government/leadership.
• Activities and achievements that demonstrate your leadership in school and community that specifically support your desire to serve as Delaware’s 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 U.S. Senate Youth Program will help you explore some of the most important questions you have at present about the challenges facing the country.
Essay 2 of 2
Write 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 importance to you, and defend your position with evidence. Your essay will be judged on organization, ideas and content, evidence of personalization, and writing conventions (including citation of sources).
Award Amount: $10,000
Award Details:
$10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science.
All paid trip for Washington Week, March 2-9, 2024
Website/URL: https://www.doe.k12.de.us/Page/3052
Scholarship Manager Information:
Contact Email: michael.feldman@doe.k12.de.us
Additional Contact & Submission Information:
Selection Process:
Students submit their completed application to their high school counselor.
Each Delaware high school selects one student as their school’s nominee for the USSYP.
School counselors email their school nominee’s completed application with all required attachments, links, and signatures in one email to Michael Feldman by the application deadline, Friday, October 13, 2023.
Students selected for the semi-finalist and finalist rounds will be notified by Delaware’s USSYP selection committee, via the email address provided in their application.
Students selected as Delaware’s USSYP delegates will be notified after December 1, 2023.
Additional Scholarship Information:
Contact your School counselor for more information/assistance
Filters:
Eligibility: Nomination Required, U.S Citizen/Permanent Resident
Areas of Study: Open to All, Law & Legal Studies, Political Science, Public Policy & Social Services
Applicant’s Current Education Level: High School Student (9-11), High School Senior
Location Specific: Delaware