ND HS Students Invited to Apply for $10k Senate Youth Program

North Dakota State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced an opportunity for high school juniors and seniors to apply for the prestigious 2025 U.S. Senate Youth Program.

The program offers a $10,000 college scholarship and the chance to participate in a unique leadership experience in Washington, D.C. The deadline for applications is Sunday, October 20, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Central time.

Each year, two high school students from every state, as well as the District of Columbia and Department of Defense schools, are selected to join the program. Alongside the scholarship, participants will attend the “Washington Week” event in March 2025, where they will engage with prominent speakers from the federal government, including members of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, as well as leaders from the national media.

To be considered, applicants must demonstrate strong leadership skills by holding an elected or appointed student office for the entire school year.

Selection is based on the students' ability to serve their peers and represent their communities, with candidates evaluated by a state selection committee.

The application process requires students to complete a web-based form, write both personal and persuasive essays, submit letters of support, and provide signatures from their school principal and a parent.

“North Dakota students who are interested in leadership and public service should take advantage of this opportunity,” Superintendent Baesler said. “It gives them a chance to develop their leadership skills alongside peers and engage in discussions on some of the most pressing issues our nation faces.”

The U.S. Senate Youth Program was established in 1962 to foster a deeper understanding of public service among outstanding high school students.

The scholarship is funded by the Hearst Foundations, created by media magnate William Randolph Hearst.

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For students passionate about public service, this program provides an invaluable chance to develop skills and gain firsthand experience in leadership on a national level.