1. The 61st annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Washington Week is being planned March 4-11, 2023, in Washington, D.C. The program may be held online pending public health guidance, and status of large group access to the government venues traditionally visited. If held in person, all delegates will be required to be fully vaccinated and boosted to attend. A final decision regarding the in-person program will be determined in the fall of 2022, with adequate time for students to complete the full vaccination series to receive the scholarship. Regardless of platform, all student delegates will partake in comprehensive interactive leadership program in the stated time frame, and each will receive the $10,000 college scholarship in the name of the United States Senate.
2. Please refer to the United States Senate Youth Program Brochure for complete details. This brochure provides valuable information regarding the USSYP program rules and regulations.
3. 3. Each high school principal may choose two students to submit the USSYP application on the form supplied by the Department of Education (DOE). Each application must have the school’s principal’s signature. The application and all required attachments must be emailed no later than October 7, 2022 to the following email address: mark.gageby@state.sd.us.
   
   Mailed in applications will not be accepted.
4. Required: Students must email with their application two (2) letters of recommendation. One letter should be an academic letter from a teacher, counselor or principal. The other letter should be from a mentor, employer or adult advisor.
5. Required: Each student must email with their application a copy of their High School Transcript.
6. If available attach a copy of your ACT Score.
7. Department of Education will select two delegates to represent South Dakota in the program. Selections will be based on the information the student provides with their application. Each State agency must submit the names of their two delegates to the USSYP on or before December 1, 2022. A representative of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation will confirm each student’s appointment as a delegate with their respective high school principal. The William Randolph Hearst Foundation will notify delegates of their appointment.
8. The USSYP website can be found at https://ussenateyouth.org/
9. There will be no USSYP Public Affairs & History exam this year.

For questions contact Mark Gageby: mark.gageby@state.sd.us, 605-773-3727

The deadline to submit the United States Senate Youth Program application has passed. Applications will be available in the fall of 2023.

• Dustin Hermansen, Aberdeen Central High School, Delegate
• Maxwell Lightfield, Milbank High School, Delegate
• Benjamin Daggett, Lennox High School, Alternate
• Madelyn Kludt, Menno High School, Alternate

• Grace Enz, Brookings High School, Delegate
• Matea Gordon, Sturgis Brown High School, Delegate
• Dustin Hermansen, Aberdeen Central High School, Alternate
• Carter LaMont, Highmore-Harrold High School, Alternate

• Kayle Lauck, McCook Central High School, Delegate
• Josie Kaufman, Sturgis Brown High School, Delegate
• Allison McManus, Lyman High School, Alternate
• Sarah Parsons, Philip High School, Alternate