Title: THE U
Author: Wilma Toombs
Last saved by: Refina Thomas
Company: ade

THE U.S. SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM
INTRODUCTION
In 1962, the United States Senate voted unanimously to endorse a nationwide youth program that would bring high school students to Washington, D.C. for a brief on-site introduction to the functions of the federal government and, in particular, the United States Senate.
The program was created and originally authorized by Senate Resolution 324 and continued in succeeding years by unanimous action of the Senate.
The resolution specified that the program should be "supported by private funds with no expense to the federal government." The William Randolph Hearst Foundation has made available the necessary funds, and each year, two high school students from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia have participated in this unique experience.
In early 1981, the U.S. Senate amended Resolution 324 to provide for the participation of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools overseas.
THE PROGRAM
The United States Senate Youth Program will be held in Washington, D.C., from March 1-8, 2003. The 104 student delegates will be immersed in Washington activities throughout their week's stay. Visits to the Senate, House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, and the Pentagon are interspersed with hours at various Smithsonian museums. Delegates will hear major policy addresses by senators, cabinet members, officials of the Departments of State and Defense, and others.
The foundation will pay all expenses for the Washington week, including transportation, hotel, and meals. A nurse will be available to delegates at all times, and a physician will be on immediate call throughout the week. The foundation will maintain insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as the foundation determines, from the time the delegates leave home until their return.
The military services will provide specially selected men and women officers to act as escorts for the student delegates while in Washington.
HOW TO QUALIFY
Two students from each state and the District of Columbia, and a first and second alternate from each state and the District of Columbia, will be selected by the office of the chief state school officer. In Arkansas, the Director of the Department of Education, Raymond Simon, is responsible for the selection process. Alternate delegates will be selected as replacements in the event a primary delegate is for any reason unable to participate in the program's Washington week.
Selection will be based solely on the outstanding ability and demonstrated qualities of leadership as elected high school student officers of the 2002-2003 school year.
1. Any high school junior or senior student is eligible for the program provided he or she has not previously been a delegate to the program and is currently serving in an ELECTED capacity in anyone of the following student government, civic, or educational organizations:
a. Student body president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer
b. Class president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer
c. Student council representative 
2.  Each student must be a PERMANENT RESIDENT of the United States and currently enrolled in a public or private secondary school located in the state (including for these purposes the District of Columbia) in which either one of his or her parents or guardians legally resides.  A student attending a school which is located in a state other than the state of legal residence of either one of such student’s parents or guardians is not eligible.
RULES
1.  In Arkansas, contacts are made through the high school principals and/or counselors.
2.  The Arkansas Director of Education must submit in writing to the foundation by December 1, 2002, the names of the two delegates and alternates.  In addition, the director must confirm each student’s appointment as a delegate or alternate with the student’s high school principal.  Once the confirmation of the delegates and alternates is received, the foundation will forward to the delegates a statement of participation to be signed by his or her parents or legal guardians, a copy of the rules and scholarship regulations, and other pertinent information relating to the delegate’s stay in Washington.
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3.  The foundation will arrange transportation to and from Washington, D.C.  It will be the responsibility of the local school district               to transport (at its expense) each delegate to and from the nearest commercial airport, bus terminal or railroad station.

4.	No tours or side trips will be permitted by individual delegates en route to or from Washington, D.C., or while in Washington, D.C.
5. No recognition or arrangements for individual religious services will be made during Washington Week. A group interdenominational service will be held on Sunday at the Mayflower Hotel for students who wish to attend. This policy will be strictly observed from the time the student delegates arrive at the Washington area airports and/or the Mayflower Hotel until return to their home sites.
6. Each delegate will be the guest of the United States Senate throughout the program and will be required to conduct himself or herself in such a manner as to reasonably assure that neither the United States Senate nor the Senate Youth Program will be discredited as a result of the conduct of such delegate.
7. Rules related to the Senate Youth Program and scholarship awards shall be construed, interpreted, and applied by the foundation, whose action and determination shall be final and binding.
SCHOLARSHIP
The William Randolph Hearst Foundation believes it is in the public interest to encourage these outstanding young people to continue their educational development. To this end, the foundation will make available to each of the 104 delegates selected to participate in the program a five thousand dollar ($5,000) scholarship award, subject to the conditions and requirements specified in the adjoining rules. Additional information concerning the scholarships will be given to the delegates on their arrival in Washington.
Certificates representing a $5,000 scholarship award will be presented to delegates during their visit to Washington, often personally by their senators. If the primary delegate is unable to attend the Washington Week, the foundation must be notified in advance. Appropriate disposition of scholarship funds will be determined by the program director.
SCHOLARSHIP RULES
These rules will govern the award of the $5,000 Senate Youth Program Scholarships:
a. To qualify, a student must participate in the Senate Youth Program during its Washington Week. If a selected
student is unable to participate, merits of his or her reasons will be considered by the foundation relative to scholarship awards.
b. To obtain scholarship funds, a student must, within two years after high school graduation, enroll at an accredited U.S. college or university, pledging to include courses in government or related subjects to his or her undergraduate program.
c. Eligible students must complete an Application for Grant of Scholarship form, have it signed by the dean of admissions or registrar, affixed with the college or university's official seal, and forwarded to the foundation.
d. The $5,000 scholarship check, when received by the school, is to be designated for the specified student's educational expenses within a four-year period. Funds may be expended for tuition, enrollment and other fees and charges, or room and board provided or approved by the school. Funds not used by the designated student are to revert to the general scholarship fund for utilization at the school's discretion.
e. Extensions for the above time limitations may be considered only in exceptional circumstances. To seek extension of the two-year enrollment requirement, a student must provide the foundation with a reason for the delay by October 15 of the year he or she would otherwise have been required to enroll. In seeking to prolong the four-year scholarship period, a student must promptly notify the foundation of the reason for interruption of his or her education.
f. A student will automatically forfeit eligibility for a scholarship award by failure to fulfill the above rules, or in the event of misconduct as a delegate to the Senate Youth Program.

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