Clear Lake student chosen for youth senate
Jenny Le: CCISD photo
A news release from CCISD:
Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn today announced the names of the two student selected as delegates to the 48th Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) that will be held in Washington, D.C. March 6 13, 2010. Jenny Le of Houston and William Hayes of Denton were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be part of the group of 104 student delegates who will attend the program's 48th Annual Washington Week.
Jenny Le is a senior at Clear Lake High School where she is the president of the National Forensic League: Speech and Debate team, Model United Nations, and Service With A Smile. She was an intern for U.S Congressman Pete Olson and chosen to be Senate floor leader at last year's Texas Bluebonnet Girls State program. When not involved in school, she regularly is active in the Vietnamese community serving as an emcee or translator. She plans on pursuing a degree in international relations or business in order to become a U.S. foreign policy analyst.
The USSYP was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 and has been sponsored by the Senate and fully funded by The Hearst Foundations since inception. Originally proposed by Senators Kuchel, Mansfield, Dirksen and Humphrey, the impetus for the program as stated in Senate testimony was to increase young Americans' understanding of the interrelationships of the three branches of government, the caliber and responsibilities of federally elected and appointed officials, and the vital importance of democratic decision making not only for America but for people around the world."
Each year this extremely competitive merit-based program brings 104 of the most outstanding high school students two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity to Washington, D.C. for an intensive week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it. The overall mission of the program is to help instill within each class of USSYP student delegates more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service. In addition to the program week, The Hearst Foundations provide each of the 104 student delegates with a $5,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs.
The chief educational officer in each state selects the delegates after nomination by teachers and principals. This year's delegates were designated by Mr. Robert Scott, Commissioner of Education.
While in Washington the student delegates will attend meetings and briefings with Senate leadership, other Senators and Congressional staff; the President, a Justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, an Ambassador to the United States and top members of the national media. The students will also tour many of the national monuments and several museums and they will stay at the historic Mayflower hotel in downtown Washington, D.C.
In addition to outstanding leadership abilities and a strong commitment to public service, this year's students rank academically in the top one percent of their states. They continue to excel and develop impressive qualities that are often directed toward public service.
Among the many distinguished former program delegates are Senator Susan Collins of Maine, the first program delegate elected to the Senate; Chief Judge Robert Henry, U.S. Court of Appeals; former Ambassador to West Germany Richard Burt; former Presidential Advisors Thomas "Mack" McLarty and Karl Rove. Additional distinguished alumni are former Lt. Governor of Idaho David LeRoy, Governor-Elect for New Jersey Christopher Christie, military officers, Foreign Service Officers, members of State Legislatures, top Congressional staff, healthcare providers and university educators.
