Superintendent Elsie Arntzen Encourages High School Students to apply for the 2023 U.S. Senate Youth Program Scholarship

• Brian O'Leary
• September 02 2022

HELENA – Superintendent Elsie Arntzen is encouraging Junior and Senior high school student leaders to apply for the 2023 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Scholarship. The two students chosen to represent Montana will each receive a $10,000 college scholarship along with a required Washington Week Program, March 4-11, 2023. Applications close on October 3, 2022, and awards will be announced in January 2023.

“The U.S. Senate Youth Program is a great opportunity for our Montana students to experience government in action,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “I have made a focus on civics a top priority in our Montana classrooms. Best of luck to all who apply!”

To qualify for the USSYP students must:

• Be a junior or senior in a Montana public, private, or charter high school. 
• Hold a leadership position in any one of the following student government, civic, or educational organizations. Leadership roles are subject to verification and judgement of the state selection administrator.
  • Student body president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer
  • Class president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer
  • Student Council representative
  • National Honor Society officer
  • Student representative elected or appointed (by a panel, commission, or board) to a local, district, regional, state-level civic, service, and/or educational organization
• Be a permanent resident of the United States at the time of application
• Be a Montana resident at the time of application

The USSYP Washington Week Program includes meetings with senators, the president, Cabinet secretaries, a Supreme Court Justice, senior members of the national media, and other policymakers. Students are encouraged to use the scholarship to continue their education in history, government, and public affairs.

The 2022 USSYP awardees from Montana were:

• Chase Casey, who was a senior at Gallatin High School and served as the vice president of the National Honor Society.
• Melaina Springer, who was a senior at Gallatin High School and served as the president of the Student Body.

For information about the Montana USSYP Scholarship, please contact Kristen Bokovoy, USSYP Coordinator, at Kristen.Bokovoy2@mt.gov or (406) 444-2417.