The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP), 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 fifty states, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)—for an intensive week-long education and leadership program held in Washington, D.C. The program is merit-based and highly competitive.
Washington Week will be held March 1-8, 2025, ON SITE in Washington, D.C. All confirmed student delegates will partake in a comprehensive, interactive leadership program in the stated timeframe, and each will receive the $10,000 college scholarship in the name of the United States Senate. The program will have a strong focus on public service, leadership, and education experience. Students will hear from speakers from the three branches of government and the national media. Additional details will be made available upon selection.
Students MUST attend Washington Week in order to receive their scholarship.
Please review the 2024 USSYP Washington Week brochure HERE in its entirety for a comprehensive explanation of the program, selection criteria and requirements, program rules, and scholarship information. If you have any questions about Idaho's program, please contact the social studies coordinator, Leslie Younger at the Idaho Department of Education via email at lyounger@sde.idaho.gov or by phone at 208-332-6975.
Application Deadline: October 11, 2024
If selected as a finalist, in-person interviews will take place on Friday, Nov. 2, 2024.