The 2026 U.S. Senate Youth Program's Washington Week application window will open in August 2025.
About the Program
The United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution in 1962 creating the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP), a national nonpartisan initiative to provide an annual opportunity for talented high school students with demonstrated leadership abilities to deepen their understanding of America’s political processes and strengthen their resolve to pursue careers in public service.
The USSYP brings the highest-level officials from each branch of government to meet with this outstanding group of young leaders—two high school juniors or seniors from each of the fifty states, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)—for an intensive week-long education and leadership program held in Washington, D.C. The program is merit-based and highly competitive.
Each student will also receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science. The program has been fully funded since inception by The Hearst Foundations as an enduring commitment to preparing young people for civic leadership in our participatory democracy.
WASHINGTON WEEK
Washington Week will be held in March 2026, on site in Washington, D.C., All confirmed student delegates will partake in a comprehensive, interactive leadership program in the stated timeframe, and each will receive the $10,000 college scholarship in the name of the United States Senate. The program will have a strong focus on public service, leadership, and education experience. Students will hear from speakers from the three branches of government and the national media. Additional details will be made available upon selection. Students MUST attend Washington Week in order to receive their scholarship.
Basic Qualifications/Application Criteria
Applicants must be high school juniors or seniors.
Selection will be based on the student’s outstanding abilities and demonstrated qualities of leadership in an elected or appointed student office for the entire school year. The primary purposes of the qualifying leadership position must be representation of a constituency and service to others. Students must demonstrate an interest in participating in leadership, public service, and government-related activities.
The school the applicant attends must be located in North Dakota and at least one of the applicant's parents or guardians must also legally reside in North Dakota. A student who attends school in a state other than the state of legal residence of his or her parents or guardians is not eligible. Additionally, students must not be graduating prior to spring of the academic year. Please note: eligible students must be either a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident in possession of their Green Card at the time of application.
The student applicant must hold a leadership position in any one of the following student government, civic, or educational organizations during the entire academic year (Please review the USSYP brochure for a complete list of the positions that do and do not qualify):
- Student Body President, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer
- Class President, Vice president, Secretary, or Treasurer
- Student Council Representative
- National Honor Society President, Vice-President, Secretary, or Treasurer (includes discipline-based National Honor Societies)
- Student representative elected or appointed (appointed by a panel, commission, or board) to a local, district, regional or state-level civic, service and/or educational organization approved by the state selection administrator
- Organizations such as FFA, FBLA, Key Club, and other national service groups are allowable organizations if the student is serving in an ongoing and active high-level elected or appointed leadership position for the entire academic year.
The applicant's high school principal must sign and verify the student's application submission and nomination to the program.
North Dakota Application Process
Students may qualify to apply through leadership positions they hold per the USSYP official criteria. All student leadership qualifying positions are subject to the judgment of the state selection administrator and will be verified and confirmed. A committee of education leaders selects two delegates and two alternates to represent North Dakota in this program. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction provides final approval.
The application process consists of the following steps:
• Completing this web-based application
• Preparing a personal essay (attach to web-based application) thoroughly describing:
- The elected/appointed position you currently hold, and all past involvement in student government/leadership;
- Activities and achievements that demonstrate leadership in school and community that specifically support your desire to serve as a USSYP delegate;
- Involvement in community service initiatives or programs outside of school;
- How your participation in USSYP will enhance your understanding and interest in the political and governmental process of the United States;
- How you believe that being chosen for USSYP will help you explore some of the more important questions I have about the challenges facing the country.
Formatting requirements: double spaced; 11 point font; you may use any essay formatting style you prefer (i.e. MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.)
Length requirements: none
• Preparing a persuasive essay (attach to web-based application) for the following prompt: Imagine that you have recently been elected as one of the youngest members of the North Dakota legislature. What would be the first bill you would introduce? Describe the provisions of your bill and why this initiative is your top priority.
The topics you address should be important to you. You should take a stand in your essay, relate its importance to you, and defend your position. The essay will be judged on organization, ideas and content, evidence of personalization, and writing quality. You are expected to conduct some level of research for this essay. Any unoriginal thoughts or ideas must be attributed appropriately in the text and on a Works Cited or References page.
Formatting requirements: double spaced; 11 point font; you may use any essay formatting style you prefer (i.e. MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.)
Length requirements: none
• Providing letters of support & recommendation (attach to web-based application)
You must include the following letters of support and recommendation:
- One from your high school principal or a teacher;
- One from an adult representative of the organization or activity where you hold a record of leadership and service to others and/or where currently hold a USSYP-qualifying leadership position.
There are no formatting requirements for these letters, but they should be signed.
• Providing required signatures (attach to web-based application)
Please include the completed, signed document titled "Application Addendum: Required Signatures." The following individuals must complete this form:
- The applicant
- Applicant's high school principal
- *Adult representative from the applicant's qualifying position organization (ONLY for students serving in position other than student body or National Honor Society officer)
Two students from each state will be selected to attend Washington Week in March of the academic year, and each will receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship. All applicants will be notified of selection results in early December of the academic year.