Awardees
The USSYP was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 and has been sponsored by the Senate and fully funded by The Hearst Foundations since inception. Each year this extremely competitive merit-based program brings the most outstanding high school students - two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity - to Washington, D.C. for 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 USSYP student delegates more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service. In addition to the program week, The Hearst Foundations provide each student with a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs.
This page provides an archive of DoDEA students selected as USSYP student delegates.
Baden Francis
2024
Baden Francis, a U.S. resident, is a junior at Kadena High School in Japan, serves as the vice president of the Junior class, one of many student government roles held throughout his schooling. He is frequently found volunteering in the community and spent several weeks last summer teaching and leading Boy Scouts from across Asia at a leadership training course in Tokyo. Baden is thrilled to represent DoDEA for the Senate Youth Program and anticipates the experience will broaden his understanding of government while cementing his aspirations of future leadership in America.
Robert Rasmussen
2024
Robert Rasmussen, a U.S. resident, is a senior at Vilseck High School in Germany and serves as the battalion commander for his Junior Reserve Officers Training Unit, is an active member of National Honor Society, and participates in both Model United Nations and Model U.S. Senate. Living in Germany since 2016, Robert is passionate about politics and feels the Senate Youth Program experience will give a unique perspective on how the U.S. government functions. He plans on attending the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Kyung Joon Flanery
2023
Kyung Joon Flanery is the student body president for Humphreys High School, located in South Korea. He volunteers at his local elementary school, church, and TaeKwonDo as an instructor throughout the year. Kyung Joon believes that the United States Senate Youth Program will allow him to continue his growth as a leader and citizen.
Olivia Kearley
2023
Olivia Kearley, a junior at Lakenheath High School, England, serves as the Student Body Representative for the Student Council, and Treasurer of the National Honor Society. She is also a DoDEA All-Europe athlete, and volunteers as a camp counselor. Ms. Kearley believes the US Senate Youth Program will give her a clear vision of how to connect her interests to public service and she is honored to represent DoDEA at the 61st annual United States Senate Youth Program Washington Week in March of 2023.
Gabriel Stephenson
2022
Gabriel Stephenson, a U.S. resident of California, is a senior at Lakenheath High School, and serves as president of his senior class and vice president of his school's chapter of Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica. Throughout high school, he has been extensively involved in athletics, academics, and performance arts. Gabriel feels that the Senate Youth experience will provide him with increased insight into government and politics and enable him to better understand his own role in the process of government.
Megan Wills
2022
Megan Wills, a U.S. resident of Florida, is a senior at Alconbury Middle/High School (AMHS), and serves as a class representative in Student Government, the vice president of the National Honor Society and the president of the Student Newsletter Club. She previously served as the AMHS Student Body secretary and Sophomore Class vice president. Since starting high school Megan has dedicated more than 130 hours to community service efforts supporting several worthwhile causes. She believes participation in this program will greatly improve her understanding of the United States government and inform future career interests in public service.
Amanda Wills
2021
Amanda Wills, a U. S. resident of Florida, is a junior at Alconbury Middle High School in England, serves as the president of the Junior Class, ambassador for the Model UN Club, JROTC commander, and secretary of the National Honor Society. Since freshman year, Amanda has performed over 100 volunteer hours giving back to the community. Amanda believes the United States Senate Youth Program will help her explore her interest in government and how our government impacts lives at the federal, state, and local levels.
Caden Burkman
2021
Caden Burkman, a U.S. resident of Colorado, is a junior at Stuttgart High School, serves as the vice president of the Junior class, treasurer/publicist of National Honor Society, lead delegate of Model United Nations and as the founding member of his local chapter of Model United States Senate. Caden plans to attend university to study international relations and would like to one day work for the United Nations. As an active member of his local community logging over 130 service hours, Caden is looking forward to gaining valuable experience and insight during Washington Week to increase his involvement in local and national government.
Edward Balbo
2020
Edward Balbo is a DoDEA student living overseas on a military base on the island of Sicily. Averaging a 4.21 GPA, Edward has been active in many models of government including Junior President, Minority WHIP at Model United States Senate, a delegate at Model United Nations, and DoDEA Military Kid representative in the 2016 inauguration. Edward feels that the Senate Youth program will be a learning experience on how America functions and a catalyst for his goals of majoring in political science.
Sophie Marro
2020
Sophie Marro is a senior at SHAPE American High School in Belgium. She is currently the Senior Class President and also President of the American Legion Junior Auxiliary. She consistently participates in Model UN and varsity soccer, serving as Captain last season. In the summer of 2019, Sophie was selected for Girls State, and subsequently attended Girls Nation as an elected Senator. Sophie has a strong interest in Government service and public policy and believes the USSYP experience will expand upon her interest from a new perspective, while also providing insight for future careers.
| Delegate | School | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Posthumus | Nile C. Kinnick High School | 2019 |
| Shannon Ryu | Seoul American Middle High School | 2019 |
| Mark Keller | Brussels Elementary High School | 2018 |
| Adah Barenburg | Naples Middle High School | 2018 |
| Emma Rook | Ankara Elementary High School | 2017 |
| John Casey | Ramstein High School | 2017 |
| Kyelee Fitts | Seoul American High School | 2016 |
| Aanand Shah | Kadena High School | 2016 |
| Thomas Harwood | Patch High School | 2015 |
| David Neaverth | Seoul American High School | 2015 |
| Avalon Roche | Kaiserslautern High School | 2014 |
| Phillip Ramirez | Vilseck High School | 2014 |
| Danari White | Seoul American High School | 2013 |
| Makayla Palazzo | Kubasaki High School | 2013 |
| Jane Rudy | Brussels Elementary High School | 2012 |
| John Bonney | Vicenza High School | 2012 |
| Robert DeWitt | Aviano Middle High School | 2011 |
| Ryan McDonnell | Lakenheath High School | 2011 |
| Joshua D. Jones | Kubasaki High School | 2010 |
| Michael A. Zachau Walker | Ankara Elementary High School | 2010 |
| Luke Moragne | David Glasgow Farragut High School | 2009 |
| Michael Boone | Kaiserslautern High School | 2009 |
| Brianna Fitch | Brussels Elementary High School | 2008 |
| Christopher Brown | Hanau Middle High School | 2008 |
| David Zumbach | Ansbach Middle High School | 2007 |
| Kara Elder | Bitburg High School | 2007 |
| Anthony Thomas Soroka | Kadena High School | 2006 |
| Elizabeth Kathleen Michael | Yokota high School | 2006 |
| Mark Andrew Norsworthy | Lakenheath High School | 2005 |
| Brienna Christine Carroll | Pusan American High School | 2005 |
| Cathleen Joy Cauguiran | Matthew C. Perry High School | 2004 |
| Kerry Ann Yudiski | David Glasgow Farragut High School | 2004 |
| Joe William McFadden | Ansbach Middle High School | 2003 |
| Timothy Eric Nikolai | Mannheim American High School | 2003 |
| Deborah Ann Crabtree | Seoul American High School | 2002 |
| Jillian Jane Rennie | Lakenheath High School | 2002 |
| Audrey Elizabeth Slayton | SHAPE High School | 2001 |
| Steven Mario Boscovitch | London Central | 2001 |
| Melissa Lea Bell | Lakenheath High School | 2000 |
| Jai-Sun Lee | General H.H. Arnold High School | 2000 |
| Christopher Ryan Henderson | Lakenheath High School | 1999 |
| Laura Elisabeth Moody | Edgren Middle High School | 1999 |
| Charmaine Alexandria Archer | Balboa High School | 1998 |
| Catherine Elizabeth Christopher | Lakenheath High School | 1998 |
| Andrew Sung-il Ormes | Seoul American High School | 1997 |
| Marc Jonathan Perna | General H.H. Arnold High School | 1997 |
| Davinder Singh Grover | Wuerzburg American High School | 1996 |
| Chad Stephen Brodel | Naples Middle High School | 1996 |
| Matthew Evan Davis | Incirlik American High School | 1995 |
| James Christopher Hartley | Bitburg American High School | 1995 |
| Krishna C. Gidwani | Wuerzburg American High School | 1994 |
| Kristin Jean Dasher | Soesterberg American High School | 1994 |
| Susan Tina Kitchens | Pusan American High School | 1993 |
| Trasa Lee Robertson | Zweibruecken American High School | 1993 |
| Marques Alan Harvey | Zaragoza High School | 1992 |
| Serena Evelyn Mosley | AFCENT International High School | 1992 |
| Angela Myung-Bin Im | Kubasaki High School | 1991 |
| Catherine Melissa Uram | Lakenheath High School | 1991 |
| Christopher Clark Campbell | Zweibruecken American High School | 1990 |
| Christian Tamotsu Fjeld | Kadena High School | 1990 |
| John Stuart Zakhem | Bahrain Middle High School | 1989 |
| Carter Hassell Griffin | Balboa High School | 1989 |
| Megan Larson | Alconbury Middle High School | 1988 |
| James Lambert | Osterholz American High School | 1988 |
| Carla Roberts | General H.H. Arnold High School | 1987 |
| Heidi Fish | Zaragoza High School | 1987 |
| Holly Kathryn Grossella | Vicenza High School | 1986 |
| Jeffrey Alan Icke | Soesterberg American High School | 1986 |
| Dayna D. Ferguson | David Glasgow Farragut High School | 1985 |
| Patrick M. Muehlberger | Lakenheath High School | 1985 |
| Martha Barrera | Kubasaki High School | 1984 |
| Lea A. Schuster | General H.H. Arnold High School | 1984 |
| Thomas D. Lightfoot | Mannheim American High School | 1983 |
| Corinna Ulrich | Zweibruecken American High School | 1983 |
| Denise Michelle Edson | William T. Sampson High School | 1982 |
| Geral-Keith Martin | Frankfurt American High School | 1982 |
