Dear High School Principals, Counselors, and Scholarship Coordinators:
2012 UNITED STATES SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM
I am pleased to announce that the California Department of Education (CDE) is coordinating the 2012 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) in California, the fiftieth annual competition sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. All public and private high schools in the state are invited to nominate up to two of their outstanding seniors or juniors to participate in the competition.
Four finalists, consisting of two delegates and a first alternate and second alternate, will be selected from the statewide applicants to be California’s USSYP representatives. The delegates will participate in a week of intensive study of the federal government as guests of the United States Senate from March 3–10, 2012, in Washington, D.C. The Foundation will pay all expenses for the delegates, including transportation, hotel, and meals. In addition, each of the delegates will receive a $5,000 college scholarship from the Foundation. The alternates attend the week in Washington only if the delegates are unable to participate.
Students must be nominated by their high school principal to be considered for the USSYP. Principals may nominate up to two students from their high school. Nominated students must be a high school senior or junior currently serving in an elected or selected capacity in a student government, civic, or educational organization. Additionally, nominated students must be a permanent resident of the United States and currently enrolled in a California public or private secondary school.
The California Instructions, California Student Application, California Qualifying Examination, California Frequently Asked Questions, and the 2012 USSYP Brochure are available on the CDE USSYP Web page. A hardcopy is available on request. The completed application packet containing an original and one copy of the California Student Application, California Qualifying Examination, and an unofficial student transcript must be mailed to the CDE. The mailing envelope must be postmarked by Friday, September 30, 2011.
Thank you for your interest and participation in the USSYP. If you have any questions regarding the USSYP, please contact Erin Dimmitt, USSYP Coordinator, Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, by phone at 916-319-0173 or by e-mail at edimmitt@cde.ca.gov.
Sincerely,
Tom Torlakson
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