The US Senate Youth Program Scholarship is sponsored by the The Hearst Foundations.
The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) is an intensive week-long educational experience and scholarship sponsored by the Hearst Foundations and the United States Senate for outstanding high school students who are interested in pursuing careers in public service. High school junior and seniors may qualify to apply through leadership positions they currently hold per the USSYP official criteria for the current academic year.
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 usually participate in meetings with the president and a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. All transportation, hotel and meal expenses will be provided by The Hearst Foundations. In addition, each delegate will also be awarded a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies, with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science.
Washington Week Program and College Scholarship
The 63rd annual United States Senate Youth Program Washington Week is March 1–8, 2025. All student delegates will partake in the comprehensive, interactive leadership program, and each will receive the $10,000 college scholarship in the name of the United States Senate. Washington Week and the scholarship are one inseparable award.
2025 BROCHURE
How to Qualify
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Be a junior or senior in a Montana public, private, or charter high school.
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Hold a leadership position for the entire school year representing a constituency in any one of the following student government, civic, or educational organizations. Leadership roles are subject to verification and judgement of the state selection administrator.
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Student body president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer
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Class president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer
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Student Council representative
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National Honor Society officer
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Student representative elected or appointed (by a panel, commission, or board) to a local, district, regional, state-level civic, service, and/or educational organization
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Be a United States citizen or legal permanent resident at the time of application
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Be a Montana resident at the time of application
An applicant's high school principal must sign and verify the student’s application submission and nomination to the program.
For more information on eligibility, code of conduct, and complete rules, see the USSYP Website.
Montana Requirements
The 2024-25 USSYP Scholarship application period is now closed!
Results will be available in the first part of December. All applicants will receive an email at that time.
2024 USSYP Delegates
Faith You, a junior at Hellgate High School, serves as the president of the Junior Class. She is a staunch advocate for rural healthcare in Montana, serving as the executive president of Montana HOSA-Future Health Professionals. She aims to attend medical school following her undergraduate studies and pursue a career in both health care and public health advocacy. Faith also serves as the co-president of Model UN at her school, the chapter president of Business Professionals of America (BPA), and the president of the Missoula Education Foundation Student Board. She volunteers with the Red Cross, is an English tutor for North Korean defectors, and conducts neuroscience research at the University of Montana, receiving recognition in science fairs at both local and international levels. For debate, HOSA and BPA, Faith has received recognition at the national and international levels. Additionally, she plays for the varsity tennis team, plays violin in the orchestras at the All-State, All-City, and school levels, and also runs her own photography business. She would like to obtain a neuroscience and public policy degree during her undergraduate years and then pursue an MD/PhD program. Through this path, she would like to become a practicing physician, researcher and public health advocate, and eventually run for public office.
Jesse McCormick, a senior at Sentinel High School, serves as a youth member of the Missoula Energy and Climate team. He serves as a captain of his debate team, president of Sentinel’s Amnesty International chapter and vice president of the Key Club. He is also active in Model UN, swimming, tennis, and Academic WorldQuest, where he is state champion and a national qualifier. He is a captain of the Missoula YMCA swim team, an athlete representative on the Montana Swimming Board of Executives, and a Diversity in Aquatics fellow, striving for diversity, equity, and inclusion across all aquatic sports. Jesse is a co-founder of the Missoula Democracy Project, and co-host of its podcast, Envisioning Missoula, which focuses on sharing the stories and goals of local community members. He previously served as a Project Bridge youth ambassador to Korea and as a School Board trustee. Jesse plans to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in international relations, political science, or economics.
Chosen as alternates to the 2024 program were Wilson Freer, a senior at Hellgate High School, and Ravenor Davion, a senior from Bozeman's Gallatin High School.
For information about the Montana USSYP Scholarship, email Kristen Bokovoy, USSYP Coordinator, or call 406-444-2417.