Students Selected for Youth Scholarship Program
Two Student Delegates Chosen to Represent Delaware in Washington D.C.
Dover, Del. - December 16, 2004 Two students, one from the Charter School of Wilmington and the other from Ursuline Academy, have been chosen as Delaware's representatives to the 43rd annual Senate Youth Scholarship Program. Stephen Giattino, a senior at the Charter School of Wilmington and Elizabeth McBride, a senior at Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, were chosen from among ten state finalists for the distinction of representing Delaware at the annual conference to be held in Washington D.C. in March 2005.
The Senate Youth Scholarship Program is a nationwide program sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation and the United States Senate. The program recognizes outstanding high school students from across the country who excel in areas of U.S. history, government and student leadership. Two students from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense are selected as delegates to the annual convention. Both Giattino and McBride will receive a $5,000 scholarship and an all-expenses week's stay in the nation's capitol during the conference.
Two alternates are also chosen from each state. Kevin Turner, a senior at St. Mark's High School, and Maria Zinszer, a senior at Sussex Technical High School will serve as state representatives if the delegate(s) are unable to participate at the conference.
The process to select the ten finalists begins early in the school year. In August, the Delaware Department of Education (DOE) sends an application to every public, private and parochial high school in the state. Each school that elects to participate in the program then selects a candidate based upon certain eligibility requirements which includes being an elected officer of the student council or a class officer. The student then completes the application, and includes letters of recommendation from the school principal and Social Studies teacher. The student must also submit grades and SAT scores as well as information on community service and school involvement.
"Once all students have been identified, the schools are sent a comprehensive examination for each candidate to take," said Lewis Huffman, Education Associate for Delaware's Department of Education (DOE). "The 2½ hour examination tests the student's knowledge of history and government. The tests are then returned to DOE for scoring," added Huffman.
A committee of education leaders then interviews each finalist testing his or her knowledge of history, state government and student leadership. Once all interviews have been conducted, the scores from the examination and the interview are combined. From this, two delegates and two alternates are chosen based on the four highest scores. The names are then turned over to the Delaware's Secretary of Education for her recommendation to the Senate Youth Scholarship Program.
"I am pleased to submit the names of these two very talented students to the William Randolph Hearst Foundation and the United States Senate," said Secretary of Education Valerie A. Woodruff. Added Secretary Woodruff, "I wish Stephen and Elizabeth my best as they continue their academic journey, and also applaud the efforts of our ten finalists for their academic and community accomplishments."
Both Giatinno and McBride will be quite busy during their trip to Washington D.C. They will visit the U.S. Senate, the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, the Pentagon as well as tour the numerous museums located in Washington. They will also listen to major policy addresses by senators, cabinet members and officials at the Department of Defense.
| Rachel Bullock | Lake Forest High School |
| Michael DeVoll | Cab Calloway School of the Arts |
| Alyson Ferguson | Smyrna High School |
| Nathaniel Gaffney | Cape Henlopen High School |
| Stephen Giatinno | Charter School of Wilmington |
| Elizabeth McBride | Ursuline Academy |
| Matthew Moor | Caesar Rodney High School |
| Edward Newton | Woodbridge High School |
| Kevin Turner | St. Mark's High School |
| Maria Zinszer | Sussex Technical High School |
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Delaware's Department of Education is committed to promoting the highest quality education
for every Delaware student by providing visionary leadership and superior service.
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Contact Info.
Alison Kepner Delaware Department of Education 401 Federal Street, Suite #2 Dover, Delaware 19901 Phone: (302) 735-4035 Fax: (302) 739-4654 Email: akepner@doe.k12.de.us |
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