The Louisiana Department of Education announced the two high school students that have been selected for the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP), in which they will represent the state of Louisiana during the 61^stannual USSYP Washington Week and receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study. The announcement came from LDOE in a news release that also detailed that the two students, Margaret Moe of Baton Rouge and James Stratton of Shreveport, will also be a part of the 104 national student delegation during the program week.

Being selected as a high school student for the United States Senate Youth Program is a high honor on account of just how competitive the merit-based program is. Only two high school students from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defence Education Activity are selected for the program which is described as being a week-long study of our federal government and those who lead it. The news release described the program week by saying, “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 will provide each student with a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history, and public affairs.”

Both of the Louisiana high school students selected for the USSYP will be joining Senator Bill Cassidy, MD and Senator John N. Kennedy during the 61st annual USSYP Washington Week, to be held March 4-11. The student delegates will be attending briefings and meetings with Senate Co-Chairs, other Senate leaders, and the Senate parliamentarian and historian; a justice of the Supreme Court, the president, officials from the Departments of Stateand Defense, and other executive agencies, a foreign ambassador to the U.S. and senior members of the media.

Dr. Cade Brumley, Louisiana State Superintendent of Education, spoke about this opportunity by saying, “this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I’m proud to have these young leaders represent Louisiana at our nation’s capital.They will get an inside look at the American government and develop an even deeper appreciation for our country.”

Baton Rogue’s Margaret Moe, who is a senior at St. Joseph’s Academy, will be serving as a Louisiana representative for USSYP. Moe is a representative of Louisiana in the Youth Governors Association, the president of the Science Club, and the vice president of her campus’s Youth and Government organization. Additionally, she is an accomplished powerlifting athlete for St. Joseph’s Academy and a State Board officer for Louisiana Model United Nations. In the future, she plans to “pursue an undergraduate degree in chemical or biological engineering and political science, along with a public policy and research career ambition at the Centers for Disease Control, United Nations, or World Health Organization.”

Shreveport’s James Stratton, who is a senior at C. E. Byrd High School, will be serving as the other Louisiana representative for the USSYP. Stratton is the president of his school’s Student Council and a school ambassador and member of the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council. Stratton “aspires to attend law school and later pursue a political career as a legislator or judge.”

The two other Louisiana students who were selected as alternates for the 2023 United States Senate Youth Programwere Baton Rouge’s Edward Carter Mayeux, who attends Catholic High School, and Metairie’s Brinley Belle Pethe, who attends Haynes Academy of Advanced Studies. Students are selected to be a delegate or alternate for the USSYP by their state’s department of education, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity after they are nominated by their teachers and principals for their participation in the program.

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