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 64th annual United States Senate Youth Program Washington Week is March 7–14, 2026. 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.
2026 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 2025-26 USSYP Scholarship application period will begin in August 2025! Check back here in August for more details!
2025 USSYP Delegates
Pranshu Krishna, a senior at Gallatin High School, serves as president of the Student Body and the community service outreach coordinator for the National Honor Society. He is captain of the debate team, the president of the first statewide chapter of UNICEF Club, and is also actively involved in Key Club, and DECA, an organization focused on business and entrepreneurship. As the Montana state policy director for the American Youth Association, Pranshu has authored and advocated for state and national education policies and served on the National Council of Student Governments' Principal State Advisory Board, advising school principals on issues facing Montana’s students. An accomplished symphony violist, Pranshu is also a member of the Bozeman Friends of Music Board as a student representative, where he helps raise funds for youth scholarships. He plans to pursue a combination of data science, political science, and business in college, and will pursue a J.D./Ph.D. program. Pranshu would like to specialize in financial technology law, where he aims to innovate and shape the future of financial technology to help align with legal frameworks and the public interest.
Charles Snellman, a senior at Capital High School, serves as the president of the National Honor Society. He grew up on a small farm and began his leadership journey in 4-H and is currently the senior ambassador for Lewis and Clark County 4-H. Charlie is also president of his school's HOSA-Future Health Professionals chapter and serves at the state level as Montana HOSA vice president of growth and development. He is the student representative on the Helena Public Schools Board of Trustees, where he represents the voice of students and provides input on issues that affect local schools. He plans to pursue a double degree at Johns Hopkins University in cello performance and molecular biology with a minor in public health or political science. He plans to attend medical school following his undergraduate studies, to pursue a career as a family medicine physician, eventually returning to Montana to serve in rural areas. After his career as a physician, Charlie hopes to pursue a political career at either the state or national level.
Chosen as alternates to the 2025 program were Ms. Audrey Rumney, a resident of Cascade, who attends Cascade High School and Ms. Maizy Miller, a resident of Missoula, who attends Hellgate High School.
For information about the Montana USSYP Scholarship, email Kristen Bokovoy, USSYP Coordinator, or call 406-444-2417.