2020 United States Senate Youth Program

I am pleased to announce the 58th annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). Sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, the California Department of Education (CDE) coordinates this competition for outstanding junior or seniors who are interested in pursuing careers in public service. All public and private high schools in the state are invited to nominate up to two juniors or seniors to participate.

Four finalists, consisting of two delegates and a first alternate and second alternate, will be selected by the CDE to be California’s USSYP representatives. The delegates will participate in a week of intensive study of the federal government as guests of the United States Senate from March 7–14, 2020, in Washington, D.C. The Hearst Foundation will pay expenses for the delegates, including transportation to and from D.C., lodging, and meals. In addition, each of the delegates will receive a $10,000 college scholarship from the Foundation. Alternates attend the events in Washington only if the delegates are unable to participate.

Students must be nominated by their high school principal, and principals may nominate up to two students. Nominated students must be high school juniors or seniors currently serving in an elected or appointed leadership capacity in a student government, civic, or educational organization for the entire 2019–20 school year. In addition, nominated students must be permanent residents of the United States and currently enrolled in a California public or private secondary school.

The application and scholarship information on the 2020 USSYP may be found on the CDE USSYP web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/eo/in/us/. The deadline to apply is Friday, October 4, 2019.

If you have any questions regarding the USSYP, please contact Dina Fong, U.S. Senate Youth Program Coordinator or David Carriker, U.S. Senate Youth Program Assistant by email at ussyp@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond

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Last Reviewed: Thursday, November 20, 2025

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