United States Senate Youth Program
Education • Leadership • Public Service
After a week as meaningful and inspiring as Washington Week is, delegates often find that their new career goal is to return to Washington to work on Capitol Hill to immerse themselves in the legislative branch. Whether in internships or full-time positions, we are proud to have many alumni who have dedicated their talents and energy to roles on Capitol Hill. Today, we feature two …
As application season for the 2020 United States Senate Youth Program begins, we have been reflecting on our history and would like to offer a few highlights from Washington Weeks past. We are featuring four illustrious Senate leaders, who were committed supporters of the program during their long careers on Capitol Hill. We hope you will enjoy reading about and learning from these “Senate …
USSYP alumni have contributed to society in a wide variety of ways, at a wide variety of ages. Today, we share the remarkable story of USSYP 2018 alumnus Andrew Mangan, who suffered a life-changing accident just over a year prior to attending Washington Week. Andrew turned his unforeseen challenge into opportunity through extreme physical and emotional resilience and intellectual curiosity. His research project on the …
The opening dinner of the 57th annual Washington Week began with the historic melodies of the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. The USSYP 2019 Republican Co-Chair Senator Joni K. Ernst of Iowa soon took the stage to share her Midwestern warmth, behind-the-scenes Senate stories, and sound advice for success in life. Her rural state and farming background set the foundation for the pillars that …
Read more Spectacular Speaking Events with the USSYP 2019 Senate Co-Chairs
While it is true that every president of the United States has met with the USSYP delegates during Washington Week since John F. Kennedy in 1963, the student delegates are also fortunate to hear from other executive branch leaders as well. Each year, Cabinet secretaries and other executive leaders meet with the group to discuss the mission of their respective agencies and their passion to …
Read more Cabinet Officials Share Wisdom and Advice with Nation’s Future Leaders
We are so pleased to be able to share an exciting new Alumni Spotlight featuring USSYP Alum Peter Buttigieg (IN – 2000). Affectionately known as “Mayor Pete” to his South Bend, Indiana constituents, Peter Buttigieg (pronounced ‘buddah-jedge’) embodies the passion and energy that drive Senate Youth delegates and alums in all fields of service. A magna cum laude Harvard graduate as well as a Rhodes …
The senior public officials who speak to the USSYP delegates during Washington Week offer such a bounty of advice and illuminating stories from their personal lives and careers that the delegates often run out of ink taking notes in their leather-bound keepsake journals. As a gift for the holiday season, we would like to share some highlights from past speakers with our USSYP community. …
Read more Sharing the Wisdom and Advice of Celebrated USSYP Speakers
The fourth estate, as the free press is also known, is a term recognizing the critical role of trained and ethical journalists as watchdogs of the public interest in a functioning democracy. America’s founders knew the integral role of the press as a check and balance on power at the outset of the nation. Journalists play a key part in the United States Senate Youth …
During Washington Week, the U.S. Senate Youth Program delegates are immersed in learning about various pathways into public service from the highest elected and appointed officials in the country. The students navigate the week under the watchful gaze of their Military Mentors, who guide and offer advice on finding success in education, life and career. The week comes to an emotional culmination for the 104 …
Read more Veteran’s Day Remembrance: USSYP delegates reflect on visiting Arlington National Cemetery
An important educational pillar of the United States Senate Youth Program’s Washington Week is the annual keynote event with an Ambassador to the United States. The delegates gain firsthand insight into international affairs and diplomacy through this intimate and interactive discussion. In recent years, Ambassadors to the United States from Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Pakistan, Russia, Sweden …