US Senate Youth Program Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Hearst Foundation

Application and Selection Process

State-level education officials select all student delegates to the United States Senate Youth Program. Rising high school juniors and seniors may request an application through their high school principals, counselors, or social studies teachers, or by contacting their state selection contacts listed on the program website. Deadlines and submission procedures vary by state; the United States Senate and The Hearst Foundations do not provide individual-state applications or choose delegates.

Application Timeline: Check your state selection contact listing on the program website for state-specific deadlines and application procedures.

• Applications are obtained through school officials or state selection contacts.
• Selection and deadlines are managed at the state level.
• The national program office does not select individual delegates.

Qualification Criteria

Eligible applicants are high school juniors or seniors who demonstrate leadership by serving in elected or appointed positions that represent a constituency and provide service. Students must be enrolled in and residing in the state they will represent for the entire 2026–2027 academic year. Applicants must not previously have been a delegate to Washington Week or received a USSYP scholarship.

Eligibility: Candidates must hold qualifying leadership roles during the entire 2026–2027 academic year and meet residency and citizenship requirements.

• Leadership roles must represent and serve a constituency.
• Graduation at the close of Fall 2026 disqualifies a candidate.
• Prior delegates or scholarship recipients are ineligible.

Qualifying Leadership Positions

The program requires active, demonstrable leadership in positions that represent and serve others. State selection administrators review and verify all leadership claims and determine whether a position meets the program’s representation and service standards. Acceptable positions are typically elected or appointed roles with year-round responsibilities.

Qualifying positions:

• Student body president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer
• Class president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer
• Student council representative
• National Honor Society officer (including discipline-based honor societies with service components)
• Student representative elected or appointed to a local, state, regional, or national civic or educational organization (high-level, year-round leadership representing a constituency)

• Qualifying roles must be active for the full 2026–2027 academic year.
• State administrators have final judgment on eligibility of positions.
• Representation and service to others are the primary criteria.

Non-Qualifying Activities

Many extracurricular activities and competitive or enrichment roles do not meet the program’s leadership criteria because they primarily serve individual development rather than constituency representation. Participation in these activities can complement a candidate’s record but will not substitute for a qualifying leadership position. Some exceptions exist when an officer role in an organization otherwise disqualifies is held for the entire school year.

Examples of non-qualifying activities:

• Attendance or officer roles at Boys/Girls Nation or junior state conferences
• Membership in National Honor Society (unless serving as an elected officer for the full year)
• Member or leader of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or sports teams (except qualifying JROTC commander or squadron leader)
• Founder or chairperson of a self-created group
• Participant, captain, or officer in Mock Trial, Debate Team, Model UN, or similar activities where the primary purpose is individual academic enrichment
• Internships or jobs that do not involve constituency representation

• Academic competitions and enrichment programs generally do not qualify.
• Officer status in some honor societies may qualify if it is an elected, year-long leadership role.
• Self-created groups and internships typically do not meet representation criteria.

Residency and Exceptions

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents (I-551 green card holders) at the time of application and must live in and attend a high school in the state they seek to represent for the entire academic year. Home-educated students must be approved by their state department of education to apply. Exceptions to residency requirements are limited and strictly defined by the program.

Residency exceptions:

• Military dependents from overseas military-connected schools represent the state of their parents’ or guardians’ U.S. legal voting residence; military dependents attending U.S. schools must reside in the state where the school is located for the academic year.
• Students attending a designated public high school that crosses contiguous state borders through a legal interstate agreement apply through and represent the state where the school is located.

• Applicants must meet citizenship or permanent residency requirements at application.
• Home-educated applicants require state department approval.
• Exceptions are limited to specific military and cross-border school circumstances.

Alternates and Attendance Requirements

Alternate delegates are designated to replace primary delegates who cannot participate in Washington Week. Full attendance at Washington Week is required to receive the program’s financial scholarship; if a primary delegate cannot attend, The Hearst Foundations must be notified in advance. The program director will determine disposition of scholarship funds in cases of emergency absence or dismissal.

Attendance and scholarship: Alternates assume delegate responsibilities if notified; scholarship eligibility requires full participation in Washington Week unless otherwise decided by the program director under exceptional circumstances.

• Alternates are selected to replace delegates who cannot attend.
• Full attendance during Washington Week is required for scholarship receipt.
• Notify The Hearst Foundations in advance if a selected delegate cannot attend.