FIFTY-NINTH ANNUAL WASHINGTON WEEK ONLINE
MARCH 14–17, 2021
Sponsored by the United States Senate
Funded and Administered by the Hearst Foundations
painting of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart, 1804
Photo courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association
There is nothing which can better deserve your patronage,
than the promotion of science and literature. Knowledge
is in every country the surest basis of public happiness.
GEORGE WASHINGTON
Fifty-Ninth Annual
Washington Week ONLINE
Program Description
The United States Senate Youth Program is an intensive weeklong educational experience sponsored by the United States Senate that nurtures an important reservoir of student talent and energy toward the high purpose of public service.
The program was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 as stated in supporting Senate testimony from that year “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.”
The 59th annual Washington Week gave 104 outstanding high school students — two from every state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity — an in-depth learning experience about the federal government
and a chance via Zoom to meet and interact with those who lead it. As the students develop a deeper commitment to public service they also form intellectual and emotional bonds with their peers from across the nation.
Administered and funded by The Hearst Foundations since inception, the USSYP utilizes no government funds. The program is highly competitive and merit-based. Qualified students — those already serving in an elected or appointed capacity with excellent academic performance — are nominated by their teachers, principals and guidance counselors and are ultimately selected by their state departments of education. Delegates are each awarded a $10,000 college scholarship, and are encouraged to continue coursework in history, government and public affairs.
2020-2021 United States Senate Youth Program
Senate Advisory Committee
HONORARY CO-CHAIRS
CO-CHAIRS
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
CONGRATULATIONS FROM
William Randolph
Hearst III
Dear Delegates,
This past year will be remembered as one of the most unusual and transformational periods in history.
As students and young leaders, you had to face sudden changes – which halted normal life and froze the hopes and expectations you had imagined at the peak of your high school careers.
You displayed resilience, perseverance, positivity, and an enduring drive to help others through the crisis. Those were the characteristics that helped you manage changed circumstances, including your participation in the first fully online Washington Week. Although the program was remote, your passion to learn and to engage with the speakers, your classmates, and your Military Mentors … displayed an obvious commitment to public service and you honored the dedication of the generations of delegates who served before you.
The highest levels of leadership in all three branches of government welcomed you and gave you the opportunity to ask questions and converse in a way unique to this historic program. We are deeply appreciative of our Senate Co-Chairs, Senator Tammy Baldwin and Senator James Lankford, and their wonderful staffs, for the two-year commitment they made to support the assiduous work, planning and innovation required during this year of new challenges. Our sincere praise extends to all members of the Senate Advisory Committee who joined Senators Baldwin and Lankford in agreeing to serve an additional year as the pandemic continued.
Each delegate receives a $10,000 college scholarship in the name of the United States Senate. The Washington Week experience and the college scholarship are an inseparable award, combining the encouragement and guidance given by the esteemed speakers with financial support to pursue college-level study of government, history, and public affairs. The Hearst Foundations are
honored to sponsor this enduring partnership with the United States Senate, the state departments of education nationwide and the Department of Defense.
Numbering more than 5,900, USSYP alumni continue to excel in prominent public service positions in all branches of government and in all career sectors. In addition to Senator Susan Collins of Maine and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, our alumni fill the leadership ranks of all aspects of society.
Finally, Washington Week could not take place without the continued endorsement of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. We also thank the Council of Chief State Schools Officers and all of the state-level education administrators, teachers and school counselors for their pivotal roles in the student selection process.
The program’s mission shall continue as long as young people in America combine a dedication to academic excellence with a desire to serve their country and their communities.
We are all proud of you and look forward to your future accomplishments.
William Randolph Hearst III
FIFTY-NINTH ANNUAL
WASHINGTON WEEK ONLINE
MARCH 14–17, 2021
Sponsored by the United States Senate
Funded and Administered by the Hearst Foundations
Fifty-Ninth Annual
Washington Week
ONLINE
painting of George Washington
by Gilbert Stuart, 1804
Photo courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association
There is nothing which can better deserve your patronage, than the promotion of science and literature. Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness.
GEORGE WASHINGTON
Program Description
The United States Senate Youth Program is an intensive weeklong educational experience sponsored by the United States Senate that nurtures an important reservoir of student talent and energy toward the high purpose of public service.
The program was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 as stated in supporting Senate testimony from that year “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.”
The 59th annual Washington Week gave 104 outstanding high school students — two from every state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity — an in-depth learning experience about the federal government and a chance via Zoom to meet and interact with those who lead it. As the students develop a deeper commitment to public service they also form intellectual and emotional bonds with their peers from across the nation.
Administered and funded by The Hearst Foundations since inception, the USSYP utilizes no government funds. The program is highly competitive and merit-based. Qualified students — those already serving in an elected or appointed capacity with excellent academic performance — are nominated by their teachers, principals and guidance counselors and are ultimately selected by their state departments of education. Delegates are each awarded a $10,000 college scholarship with certificates often personally presented by their U.S. Senators, and are encouraged to continue coursework in history, government and public affairs.
United States Senate
Resolution 324
In 1962, Senate Resolution 324, submitted by Senator Kuchel (for himself and Senators Mansfield, Dirksen, and Humphrey), was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration, and, subsequently, unanimously approved by the United State Senate as follows:
WHEREAS the continued vitality of our Republic depends, in part, on the intelligent understanding of our political processes and the functions of our National Government by the citizens of the United States; and
WHEREAS the durability of a constitutional democracy is dependent upon alert, talented, vigorous competition for political leadership; and
WHEREAS individual Senators have cooperated with various private and university undergraduate and graduate fellowship and internship programs relating to the work of Congress; and
WHEREAS in the high schools of the United States, there exists among students who have been elected to student body offices in their junior or senior year a potential reservoir of young citizens who are experiencing their first responsibilities of service to a constituency and who should be encouraged to deepen their interest in and understanding of their country’s political process: Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate hereby expresses its willingness to cooperate in a nationwide competitive high school Senate youth program which would give several representative high school students from each State a short indoctrination 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.
RESOLUTION 146. To amend S. Res. 324 of the Eighty-seventh Congress to provide for the participation of the Department of Defense education system for dependents in overseas areas in the Senate Youth Program.
RESOLVED, That S. Res. 324, Eighty-seventh Congress, agreed to May 17, 1963, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section:
SECTION 3. For the purpose of this resolution, the term “State” includes the Department of Defense education system for dependents in overseas areas.
2020-2021 UNITED STATES SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM
Senate Advisory
Committee
HONORARY CO-CHAIRS
CO-CHAIRS
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
CONGRATULATIONS FROM
William Randolph
Hearst III
Dear Delegates,
This past year will be remembered as one of the most unusual and transformational periods in history.
As students and young leaders, you had to face sudden changes – which halted normal life and froze the hopes and expectations you had imagined at the peak of your high school careers.
You displayed resilience, perseverance, positivity, and an enduring drive to help others through the crisis. Those were the characteristics that helped you manage changed circumstances, including your participation in the first fully online Washington Week. Although the program was remote, your passion to learn and to engage with the speakers, your classmates, and your Military Mentors … displayed an obvious commitment to public service and you honored the dedication of the generations of delegates who served before you.
The highest levels of leadership in all three branches of government welcomed you and gave you the opportunity to ask questions and converse in a way unique to this historic program. We are deeply appreciative of our Senate Co-Chairs, Senator Tammy Baldwin and Senator James Lankford, and their wonderful staffs, for the two-year commitment they made to support the assiduous work, planning and innovation required during this year of new challenges. Our sincere praise extends to all members of the Senate Advisory Committee who joined Senators Baldwin and Lankford in agreeing to serve an additional year as the pandemic continued.
Each delegate receives a $10,000 college scholarship in the name of the United States Senate. The Washington Week experience and the college scholarship are an inseparable award, combining the encouragement and guidance given by the esteemed speakers with financial support to pursue college-level study of government, history, and public affairs. The Hearst Foundations are honored to sponsor this enduring partnership with the United States Senate, the state departments of education nationwide and the Department of Defense.
Numbering more than 5,900, USSYP alumni continue to excel in prominent public service positions in all branches of government and in all career sectors. In addition to Senator Susan Collins of Maine and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, our alumni fill the leadership ranks of all aspects of society.
Finally, Washington Week could not take place without the continued endorsement of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. We also thank the Council of Chief State Schools Officers and all of the state-level education administrators, teachers and school counselors for their pivotal roles in the student selection process.
The program’s mission shall continue as long as young people in America combine a dedication to academic excellence with a desire to serve their country and their communities.
We are all proud of you and look forward to your future accomplishments.
William Randolph Hearst III
2021 Washington Week ONLINE
SUNDAY, MARCH 14
Welcome orientation and meeting of Military Mentor Groups
Captain Scott Kelly
Former NASA Astronaut and Commander of the International Space Station
Formal introduction of the Military Mentors and program welcome by
Mr. Dino Dinovitz, Executive Director of The Hearst Foundations
USSYP Student Roll Call of the States
Live Virtual Tour of George Washington’s Mount Vernon
MONDAY, MARCH 15
Judge Robert Henry
(USSYP – OK 1971)
Former Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Dr. Betty Koed
Senate Historian
Justice Clarence Thomas
Associate Justice of the
U.S. Supreme Court
Senator James Lankford
Republican Co-Chair of the 59th Annual United States Senate Youth Program
TUESDAY, MARCH 16
Greetings and Q and A with the NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Dr. Francis Collins
Director of the National
Institutes of Health
Dr. Anthony Fauci
Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Dr. Sharon Milgram
Director of the Office of Intramural Training and Education
Ms. Norah O’Donnell
Anchor and Managing Editor, CBS Evening News
Contributor for 60 Minutes
Department of State
Greetings:
Senator Antony Blinken
U.S. Secretary of State
Virtual Tour of U.S. Embassy Brasilia /
Q and A with Embassy Personnel
Ambassador Todd Chapman
U.S. Ambassador to Brazil
Ms. Jalina Porter
State Department Principal Deputy Spokeswoman
Senator Tammy Baldwin
Democratic Co-Chair of the 59th Annual United States Senate Youth Program
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17
Greetings from the
President of the United States
Mr. Brian Kamoie
(USSYP – PA 1989)
Distinguished Chair of Leadership,
U.S. Naval Academy
Ms. Gina McCarthy
White House National Climate Advisor
Dr. Kathleen Hicks
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense
Farewell Event
Closing Remarks
Mr. George Irish, Eastern Director
of The Hearst Foundations
Farewell Speaker
Mr. Noah Harris (USSYP – MS 2018), Undergraduate Student Body President of Harvard University