Students sought for Washington Week

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Two Alaska high school students are being sought to spend a week this winter in the nation's capital observing the federal government in action.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, along with Sen. Ted Stevens, announced recently that the United States Senate Youth Program has begun its statewide selection process. The two students will join 102 other delegates Feb. 28 through March 6 for the program's 42nd Annual Washington Week.

The program was established in 1962 by Senate Resolution 324, which resolved: "The Senate hereby expresses its willingness to cooperate in a nationwide competitive high school program, which would give several representative high school students from each state a short [review] into the operation of the United States Senate and the federal government generally, if such a program can be satisfactorily arranged and completely supported by private funds with no expense to the federal government."

Since that time, more than 4,000 students have participated in the unique leadership program. Each year, this program brings two students from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity programs to Washington, D.C. to experience an intensive week-long governmental study program. The program is fully funded by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation and no government funds are involved.

In addition to seeking outstanding leadership abilities and a strong commitment to volunteer work, the students rank academically in the top one-percent of their states. Previous program participants include current Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and presidential advisor Karl Rove.

Each of the 104 student delegates will receive a $5,000 scholarship in addition to the all-expenses paid trip to the nation's capital.

The student delegates will visit Capitol Hill, the White House, the Pentagon, the State Department, the U.S. Supreme Court and other highlights in Washington, D.C. They will meet with senators, cabinet officers, government leaders and policymakers.

The delegation selection is administered by each state's chief school officer in cooperation with high school principals -- in Alaska, that means by the Commissioner of the Department of Education and Early Development. Delegates must be junior or senior elected student officers for the 2003-2004 academic year and reside in the state where they attend school. Eligibility considerations may be made for student representatives elected or selected to district, regional or state-level civic or educational organizations.

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 in which either one of his or her parents or guardians legally resides. Names of students selected will be announced in mid-December. Interested students in Alaska should contact their high school principal soon, since the final deadline for applying is Nov. 7. For more information, contact Naomi K. Obie, program administrator, through the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, 801 W. 10th St., Suite 200, Juneau, AK 99801-1894. Obie can also be reached by phone at (907) 465-8728 or by e-mail at naomi_obie@eed.state.ak.us. For more information about the program, visit its Web site at www.ussenateyouth.org.