Delaware students selected for United States Senate Youth Program
Two Delaware students will represent the First State as delegates to the 51st annual United States Senate Youth Program in March.
Secretary of Education Mark Murphy selected Thurston Brevett, a Cab Calloway School of the Arts student from Bear, and John Micklos, a Newark High School student from Newark, to head to Washington D.C. as part of the 51st annual Washington Week. John Connolly, a Charter School of Wilmington student from Wilmington, and Zachary Boulden, a St. Mark’s High School student from Newark, were chosen as alternates to the 2013 program. U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons announced the names.
“In addition to the outstanding leadership and commitment to volunteer work that these young men have demonstrated, they also are academically ranked in the top 1 percent of the state among high school juniors and seniors,” Murphy said. “They already are leaders in their schools and communities. This program will give them the opportunity to grow those skills as they learn from our state and nation’s public servants.”
During Washington Week, March 9 to 16, the delegates will attend meetings and briefings with Senators and Congressional staff, the President, a Justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, an Ambassador to the United States and members of the national media. The students, who will stay at the historic Mayflower Hotel, also will tour national monuments and museums.
The competitive, merit-based program brings together 104 top high school students – two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity – for an intensive, week-long study of the federal government and those who lead it. The aim is for delegates to complete the program with a more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service. The chief educational officer in each state – the Secretary of Education in Delaware -- selects the delegates after nomination by teachers and principals.
Transportation and all expenses are paid for by the Hearst Foundations, which also provides each of the 104 student delegates with a $5,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs.
About the delegates
- Thurston Brevett serves as Student Government historian at Cab Calloway. An instrumental music major who plays saxophone, electric and upright bass and piano, he also a member of the National Honor Society, a National Achievement semi-finalist and a member of the winning team of the State Finance Challenge. He is the tenor saxophone captain of the school’s marching band, and last year he won the Cliff Notes Composition Competition, which he performed live at the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival with his band, The Thursties.
- John Micklos is Newark’s senior class president, the Family Career and Community Leaders of America chapter’s first vice president and a member of Delaware Youth in Government and Model United Nations. He is founding member of Newark High School Global Perspective Club, a club that strives to teach students about global issues and attempts to involve them in finding solutions. The club reached its goal this year in paying for a Kenyan student to attend high school. He hopes to study international relations with the intent of starting an international non-profit devoted to teaching sustainable agricultural practices as well as safe food preparation techniques.
|
Delaware's Department of Education is committed to promoting the highest quality education
for every Delaware student by providing visionary leadership and superior service.
|
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 |
Other Press Releases |
