EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A Burges High School senior is joining 103 other students nationwide to participate in the prestigious United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP), “earning recognition as one of the nation’s most promising young leaders,” read the news release from the El Paso Independent School District.
Catalina Gutierrez, a senior at Burges HS, is one of two students who will represent Texas at the USSYP in Washington, D.C., from March 7-14. Students will participate in an intensive study about the federal government, meeting with senators, high-ranking officials and Supreme Court justices.
“I was very surprised when I found out,” Gutierrez said. “There was so much competition for this program. To be able to interact with student leaders from across the nation and with political leaders from our government is really amazing and eye-opening.”
The program — hosted by Vice President J.D. Vance, U.S. Senators John Thune and Chuck Schumer — is to encourage American youth in civic engagement and leadership. According to the USSYP, many program alumni have gone to serve as elected officials, judges and leaders in public service…