United State Senate Youth Program

The 64th Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP), established in 1962 by U.S. Senate Resolution, is held in Washington, D.C. Two student leaders from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity spend a week in Washington experiencing their national government in action. Delegates hear major policy addresses by senators, cabinet members, officials from the Departments of State and Defense and directors of federal agencies, as well as participate in a meeting with a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The next USSYP will take place from March 7-14, 2026.

Each delegate is awarded a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies. Information about the national program can be found at ussenateyouth.org and the U.S. Senate Youth Program brochure and yearbooks.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education coordinates and implements the USSYP on a yearly basis. It is overseen by Brenda Beymer-Chapman, the Project Manager of Social Studies Education in the Office of Standards and Learning on behalf of State Superintendent. The USSYP is a competitive scholarship program in which two Oklahoma high school students will win a one-week, all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., and a $10,000 college scholarship from the Hearst Foundations.

• Oklahoma applications can be accessed here and are due by 5:00 p.m. on September 30, 2025. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
• Finalists will be notified by November 1, 2025. Finalists will be required to attend an interview in November of 2025. On the basis of the personal interview, essays, letter of recommendation, and application, judges will select two student delegates to represent Oklahoma and a first and second alternate.
• The two students chosen to represent Oklahoma as delegates and the two students chosen as alternates will be notified by December 31, 2025.

For additional information, contact Brenda Beymer-Chapman.