South Dakota students selected for United States Senate Youth Program

Two South Dakota students have been chosen to be a part of the 2024 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). Leila Balsiger of Winner and Katie Schulte of Yankton were selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be a part of the 104-student delegation.

As selectees for the USSYP, Balsiger and Schulte will travel to Washington, D.C., in March to attend USSYP Washington Week, where attendees will attend meetings and briefings with senators, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, and others. The students will also receive a $10,000 scholarship each from the USSYP.

The USSYP is an extremely competitive merit-based program designed to provide outstanding student leaders from each state with an intensive week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it. The goal is to inspire a lifelong commitment to public service.