COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 174

August 1, 2008

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. 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 2009.

 

Each public and private high school may submit one nominee. That nominee will take an examination that tests the individual's knowledge of the United States Constitution and the government, including current government officials. The administration of the examination must be supervised by a teacher or administrator at the student's school. The completed examination will be sent to the Virginia Department of Education where it will be scored. Two state delegates and two alternates will be selected based on the results of their examinations and information included in their applications. A panel of judges appointed by the Virginia Department of Education will select the delegates and alternates. The examination results, outstanding academic ability, and demonstrated qualities of leadership and community service will be considered when selecting the two state delegates and two alternates.

 

Nominees must be juniors or seniors who have not previously been delegates, and who are serving during the 2008-2009 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, and regional or state-level civic or educational organization.

 

The nominees should possess the following qualities:

• leadership ability;
• high scholastic standing and demonstrated ability to achieve;
• clear speech and logical thought processes;
• community involvement; and
• participation in a wide selection of activities on and off campus such as sports, arts, and politics.

 

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 student's parents or guardians is not eligible.

 

Detailed information about the United States Senate Youth program may be found on the William Randolph Hearst Foundation website at http://www.hearstfdn.org/ussyp/. An application form is attached, and must be received at the Virginia Department of Education no later than September 19, 2008. An examination will be mailed to the school counselor or designated contact at the student's school by September 26, 2008. The completed examination must be postmarked no later than October 10, 2008, to:

 

Dr. Beverly Thurston

Office of Middle and High School Instruction

Virginia Department of Education

P. O. Box 2120

Richmond, Virginia 23218-2120

 

Notification of selected delegates will occur by the end of December 2008. For further information, please contact Dr. Beverly Thurston, coordinator of history and social sciences, Office of Middle and High School Instruction, by e-mail at Beverly.Thurston@doe.virginia.gov or by telephone at (804) 225-2893.

 

BKCJr/BT/yba

 

Attachment

 

a. Student Application (Word)