P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 163

August 13, 2004

INFORMATIONAL

TO:

Division Superintendents

FROM:

Jo Lynne DeMary

Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT:

United States Senate Youth Program (Scholarship Opportunity for High School Juniors and Seniors)

The Virginia Department of Education will select two student delegates to represent Virginia in the United States Senate Youth Program sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. Each delegate will receive a $5,000 scholarship and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., in March 2005.

Each public and private high school may submit one nominee. That nominee will take an examination that tests the individuals knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and the government, including government officials. Based on the results of the examination and information included on the application, up to 10 students will be selected to participate in an interview where two delegates and two alternates will be selected.

Nominees must be a junior or senior who has not previously been a delegate, and who is serving during the 2004-2005 school year in an elected or selected capacity in a student government or related organization such as: student body or class president, vice-president, secretary or treasurer, representative to the student council or district, regional or state-level civic or educational organization.

Each nominee must be a permanent resident of the United States and currently enrolled in a public or private secondary school located in the state in which either one of his or her parents or guardians legally resides. A student attending a school that is located in a state other than the state of legal residence of either of the students parents or guardians is not eligible.

Nomination forms will be sent to all public and private schools the week of August 20, 2004, and must be submitted to the Virginia Department of Education no later than September 22, 2004. Schools that do not receive the information should contact Colleen C. Bryant (cbryant@mail.vak12ed.edu), secondary history and social science specialist, at (804) 786-4640.

For further information, please contact Mrs. Bryant at the above number.

PIW/CCB