Minnesota Students Selected for United States Senate Youth Program
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota high school students Emi Ren and Pranika Kumar will join Senator Amy Klobuchar and Senator Tina Smith in representing Minnesota during the 63rd annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Washington Week, to be held March 1-8, 2025.
Emi Ren, of Arden Hills, and Pranika Kumar, of Edina, were selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the national student delegation. Each delegate will also receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study.
“Congratulations to Emi and Pranika on your dedicated work to serve your schools and communities, which has led you to this opportunity to learn from our nation’s leaders,”said Commissioner Willie Jett. “Minnesota is proud of young leaders like you.”
Each year this competitive merit-based program provides the most outstanding high school students—two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity—with 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 delegates more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service.
“Congratulations to Emi Ren of Arden Hills and Pranika Kumar of Edina, who were selected to represent Minnesota as delegates at the United States Senate Youth Program this year,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar. “It’s great to see students and future leaders who are not only interested in learning about public service but are also applying these civic skills to real-world situations.”
"The U.S. Senate Youth Program is an incredible opportunity for young leaders to engage with our government and develop the skills and insights that will help them lead in the future," said Sen. Tina Smith. "Programs like these are important for equipping young people with the tools they need to make a difference in their communities and beyond. Minnesota is fortunate to have such talented and dedicated students representing our state."
Emi Ren, a senior at Mounds View High School, is State Steering Committee Chair for YMCA of the North Center for Youth Voice. She is a champion for improvement in her community, with a focus on education and civic involvement. She started the Mounds View Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Initiative, which creates lessons on the morning announcements during AAPI Heritage Month each May, petitioned to establish Lunar New Year as a district holiday, and proposed the creation of an AAPI history class. She also helped raise funds to track hate crimes through StopAAPIHate.
She is a Bank of America Student Leader, president of her high school's Youth in Government delegation, and president of Mounds View Dreamcatchers. She served as page for the Minnesota House of Representatives and is on the executive board of both her school's student council and National Honors Society.
|
Pranika Kumar, a junior at Edina High School, serves as a student representative on the Edina Human Rights Commission. She has spearheaded student-led initiatives to address mental health and educational disparities, particularly in communities facing systemic neglect.
Her leadership is driven by her commitment to equity and progress. She hopes to bridge her STEM background with advocacy efforts, combining scientific research with policy reform to address systemic inequalities. This intersection of science and social justice allows her to tackle complex issues from multiple angles, ensuring solutions are grounded in empathy and action.
|
Alternates to the 2025 program are Feven Tesfaye, of Burnsville, a junior at Burnsville High School and Minnesota Youth Council representative, and Istahil Abdi, of Saint Paul, a senior at Johnson High School and School Leadership Team captain.
Delegates and alternates are selected by the state departments of education nationwide and the District of Columbia and Department of Defense Education Activity, after nomination by teachers and principals.
During the program week, the student delegates attend meetings and briefings with senators, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, and leaders of cabinet agencies, among others.
For more information please visit: www.ussenateyouth.org.
###
|