BANCROFT — North Gem High School senior Alyson Reed has been selected as one of two Idaho delegates to receive a $10,000 scholarship in addition to an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. from March 2-9.
This year marks the 62nd annual United States Senate Youth Program Washington Week, a rigorous conference involving 104 of the top student leaders from around the country. Funded by The Hearst Foundation and the Senate, the purpose of the program is to teach America’s next generation of leaders how the various branches of government work together, while instilling “a lifelong commitment to public service.”
The application process involves both a personal and a persuasive essay, followed by in-person interviews for the top-10 finalists at the Idaho State Department of Education in Boise.
With so many highly qualified applicants vying for the award, Reed didn’t hold out too much hope to win, even after being selected as a finalist. She said, “When the woman called and told me that I had been picked as a delegate, I was really shocked at first. I admit when I went into the interviews I thought these kids are all crazy smart, I don’t have a shot, so when I got the call I was super surprised.”