The United States Senate Youth Program Scholarship Application Period is Now Open
The 2020-21 U.S. Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Scholarship is now open to Montana Juniors and Seniors who meet the USSYP qualifications! This year, the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) and The Hearst Foundations have made considerable changes to the scholarship selection process due to COVID-19, so please read this notice in full.
Qualifications: The Hearst Foundations have very specific rules regarding qualifications, attendance, and code of conduct for delegates. The state of Montana requires qualifying applicants to turn in a complete electronic application packet, and semifinalists must participate in an interview via Zoom. This year, the qualifying leadership role held may be for the full 2020-21 school year, or the full 2019-20 school year, if typical student leadership elections or appointment opportunities are not available due to the coronavirus pandemic. Leadership roles are subject to verification and judgement of the state selection administrator. You can find a PDF of the brochure and more information about Montana’s requirements on our scholarship page.
Who Will Win: Two students from Montana will be selected to receive one $10,000 scholarship each, along with a required, Washington Week Online Program, March 14-18, 2021. Program times are Sunday, March 14, 2021, from 3:00–8:00 PM EST, and Monday, March 15–Thursday, March 18, 2021, from 11:00 AM–7:00 PM EST. Attending the entire Washington Week Online public service and leadership program and the college scholarship are one, inseparable award.
To Apply: The application is available on the OPI Scholarship webpage. Please note that this year the application MUST be submitted electronically. In addition, the Hearst Foundations are requiring that the applicant’s principal, guidance counselor, or history/government teacher formally endorse the candidate’s application. For Montana’s application, this endorsement will be a signed letter of recommendation from one of these approved recommenders. Please see the application for further details.
Application Deadline: Complete application packets must be submitted via email no later than 11:59 p.m., Monday, November 2, 2020.
Selection: If a student from your school is selected as a semifinalist, the student must participate in an interview in January via Zoom. The judges will select two delegates to receive the scholarship and attend the Washington Week Online Program. Two alternates will be selected as well. If one of the delegates forfeits the scholarship, an alternate will be awarded the scholarship and be expected to attend the Washington Week Online Program. The successful delegates and alternates will be notified in February 2021.
Thank you for sharing this information with your high school juniors and seniors!
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
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