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The United States Senate Youth Program, established
in 1962 by U.S. Senate Resolution, is a unique educational
experience for outstanding high school students interested
in pursuing careers in public service. The 47th annual
program will be held in Washington, D.C., from March
7 - 14, 2009. Two student leaders from each state, the
District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education
Activity will spend a week in Washington experiencing
their national government in action. Student delegates
will hear major policy addresses by Senators, cabinet
members, officials from the Departments of State and
Defense and directors of other federal agencies, as
well as participate in a meeting with a Justice of the
U.S. Supreme Court. All transportation, hotel and meal
expenses will be provided by The Hearst Foundations.
In addition, each delegate will also be awarded a $5,000
College Scholarship for undergraduate studies, with
encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political
science.
All student delegates to the United States Senate Youth
Program are selected by state-level education officials
– the United States Senate and The Hearst Foundations
do not provide individual states’ applications
or choose the delegates and alternates.
USSYP Selection Process – How to Qualify
Two student delegates and a first and second alternate
will be selected from each state and the District of
Columbia by the Chief State School Officer in each state.
The Hearst Foundations will provide $1,000 to each state-level
department of education to assist with the selection
expenses for the program. In addition, The Hearst Foundations
provide a rigorous public affairs examination that states
may use as part of the selection process. The office
of the Department of Defense Education Activity, Washington,
D. C., will be responsible for the selection and confirmation
of DoDEA delegates and alternates. Military dependents
who reside and attend schools in the United States may
apply for the program under the PERMANENT RESIDENT ruling
as shown below.
Alternate delegates will be selected as replacements
in the event a primary delegate is unable to participate
in Washington Week. If the primary delegate is unable
to attend Washington Week, The Hearst Foundations must
be notified in advance. Appropriate disposition of scholarship
funds will be determined by the Program Director.
Selection will be based solely on the students' outstanding
abilities and demonstrated qualities of leadership in
an elected or appointed high school student office for
the 2008-2009 school year. A student who graduates high
school at the close of the fall 2008 semester/quarter
is not eligible to apply for the program.
1. Any high school junior or senior student is eligible
for the program provided he or she has not previously
been a delegate to Washington Week and has not received
a USSYP scholarship. The student is required to be currently
serving in an elected or appointed capacity in any one
of the following student government, civic or educational
organizations:
a. Student Body President, Vice President, Secretary
or Treasurer
b. Class President, Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer
c. Student Council Representative
d. Student representative elected or appointed (appointed
by a panel, commission or board) to district, regional
or state-level civic or educational organization.
5. Each student must be a PERMANENT RESIDENT of the
United States and currently enrolled in a public or
private secondary school located in the state (including
for these purposes the District of Columbia) in which
either one of his or her parents or guardians legally
resides. A student attending a school which is located
in a state other than the state of legal residence of
either one of such student's parents or guardians is
not eligible.
Exceptions to the permanent residency requirement will
only be made in the following cases:
a. Students from Department of Defense Education Activity
will represent the state(s) of which the parents/guardians
are U.S. legal voting residents.
b. Interstate Compacts (by Congressional mandate) presently
exist between New Hampshire-Maine and New Hampshire-Vermont,
authorizing school districts to legally cross state
borders. Students in these schools are eligible to make
an application for this program only through the states
where the schools are located.
High school juniors and seniors may obtain a USSYP
application through their high school principals, guidance
counselors and social studies teachers OR they may inquire
directly to their state selection contact
Mr. Robert Murphy
Executive Director of the Maryland Student Councils
Maryland State Department of Education
Division of Student, Family, School Support
200 W. Baltimore Street, 4th Floor
Baltimore, 21201
(410) 767-0305
RMurphy@msde.state.md.us
www.marylandpublicschools.org).
The Maryland Youth Advisory Council was established
through Senate Bill 1 in order to ensure that Maryland
youth are given the opportunity to provide feedback
and recommendations regarding public policies and programs
that affect their future and to take a leadership role
in creating meaningful change. The Maryland Advisory
Youth Council will be appointed by the Governor, the
President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Delegates, the Maryland Association of Student Councils,
University System of Maryland Student Council and the
Maryland Higher Education Commission Student Advisory
Council. All youth members must be 14-22 years of age,
serve a term for nine months (September 1, 2008 until
June 30, 2009) and they cannot serve more than two consecutive
terms. (View
Powerpoint)
Purpose - The Council’s purpose and responsibility
is to:
* Hold at least 4 meetings a year
* Hold at least one public meeting on issues of importance
to youth (topics can include: education, a safe learning
environment, employment opportunities, increasing youth
participation in government, health care access and
quality of care, substance abuse and underage drinking,
emotional and physical well-being, the environment,
poverty, homelessness, youth access to services, suicide
prevention, and educational accessibility issues for
students with disabilities.
* Recommend one legislative proposal
* Provide testimony before legislative bodies on youth
issues
* Conduct a public awareness campaign to raise awareness
about the Council among Maryland youth
* Provide an annual report to the Governor and the General
AssemblyHow to Apply:
If you think that you would like to be a voice for youth
in Maryland, fill out the application. The Maryland
Association of Student Councils(MASC) will be appointing
15 students. If you wish to apply through MASC, be sure
to fax the application to Mr. Murphy (information is
on the application) (DOWNLOAD
APPLICATION)
If you have any questions you can contact Marina Chatoo
at mchatoo@goc.state.md.us or at 410-767-3526.
Marina Chatoo, Director of Prevention Strategies
301 West Preston St., 15th floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
The Montgomery County Board of Elections is seeking
students, grades six to twelve, to serve as Election
Day student aides during the 2008 Presidential General
Election. Students must attend mandatory training
to serve on Election Day and receive Student Service
Learning (SSL) credits on the day of the service.
Students will be placed according to home addresses
into neighboring precincts. This initiative combines
civic participation with an opportunity to observe democracy
in action. This program is available to all students
within a public, private, independent, religious, or
home-school setting located in Montgomery County.
U.S. citizenship is not a pre-requisite to participate.
Students with bilingual and American Sign Language skills
are encouraged to apply.
E-mail Future.Vote@montgomerycountymd.gov for an application
(or download the attached application-PDF
file). Students will be notified if selected to
participate.
Election aide Responsibilities
1. Greet voters, clearly, articulately, offer
assistance and/or voter information such as sample ballots;
2. Be aware of and offer suggestions for voters
having difficulty with standing;
3. Regarding Voter Access Cards, maintain oversight
of Voter Access Card box and provide voters with verbal
direction to place cards in box; do not handle cards.
Cards must remain in polling room;
4. Maintain neatness in polling room and hall
leading into polling room; be able to move around polling
room and hallway pick up and dispense literature/trash;
5. For voters, open doors to polling facility
as necessary;
6. Provide directions to rest rooms and polling
room exits as necessary;
7. Be able to provide voters with accessibility
information and be sensitive to all voters including
those with special needs;
8. If requested, be able to provide voter information
assistance in a second language or American Sign Language
(ASL);
9. In polling places with unique physical structures,
assist with voters’ access to polling room, via
such as elevators, gates, key or pad locks
Specific questions should be refered to:
Gilberto "Dr. Z" Zelaya II, Ph.D.
Montgomery County Board of Elections, Community Outreach
Liaison
P.O. Box 4333, 751 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD
20849-4333
Office: 240.777.8532 Gilberto.Zelaya@montgomerycountymd.gov
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(Student Member of the Board of Education's Advisory
Committee)
Sponsored by the Montgomery County
Public Schools, this committee (created by the 26th
Student Member of the Board of Education, Sagar Sanghvi)
meets periodically to discuss student issues before
the Board of Education and/or general student concerns.
On occasion, the group is asked to give feedback to
offices and departments in central office concerning
curriculum, displays, guidelines, etc.
Quratul-Ann Malik, the 31st student
Board member is continuing this committee. She is seeking
at least one student from every high school and interested
middle school students to serve on this committee. Interested
students should contact Ms. Malik at 301-840-3730 or
Quratul-Ann_Malik@mcpsmd.org and give her your name,
address, phone, email, school, grade in school for 2008-2009,
and a statement of interest, commitment, and qualifications.
Meetings for 2008-2009 are scheduled
to meet at Carver Educational Service Center (850 Hungerford
Drive, Rockville, 20850) in the Board Room or Board
Conference Room from 7:00-8:30pm on:
Monday, November 10, 2008
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Other meetings may be scheduled as
needed.
Middle and high school students are needed to
serve on the Special Elections Committee. This committee
handles the logistical details for running the election
of the Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB),
a public official!to download an informational flyer or
go to the Special Elections
Web page.
This
site has great preapproved opportunities for service
learning!
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Maryland Youth Action Corps - (visit
their web
site) For more information on MYAC, contact Teresa
Garcia of the GOSV at 410.767.6338 or tgarcia@gosv.state.md.us
The Challenge: Seeing young men
and women as valuable, energetic resources, both in
direct service and leadership in the community, MYAC
(the Maryland Youth Action Corps) was launched in 1995
as a pilot program of the Maryland Governor's Office
on Service and Volunteerism. The intention was to provide
a place for youth to advocate for youth concerns, develop
a membership and involve youth in service and leadership
throughout Maryland.
Recent Developments: The students,
mentors and staff have been growing in number since
1995. They have been working to form a stronger and
larger group of youth who are taking leadership roles
and doing service projects across the State. Because
of this growth from a committee to a body of youth,
adults, and Volunteer Centers, it is now proposed for
MYAC to be renamed "Maryland's YouthActionCorps". This
change follows one of the ideas proposed in the "Call
to Action" drafted by the Youth Commissioners at their
August 2001 meeting in Washington, DC.
Youth Action Corps Mission Statement:
The mission of Maryland's YouthActionCorps is to:
- Create direct service opportunities,
- Promote leadership opportunities
and training, and
- Support a forum for contact with
other youth and adult mentors.
Gaining Momentum in Growth and Vision:
To achieve this goal of promoting youth service and
leadership in Maryland, the GOSV is working with the
growing number of volunteer centers across the State
to engage Youth Action Corps members in service and
leadership in their local communities.
Benefits of Membership - As a member,
you will have the opportunity to:
- Provide direct service in your
community.
- Serve on one or more YAC project
teams of your choice, helping to plan the year's events.
- Hold and advocate for youth leadership
roles in your community organizations.
- Attend a Youth Action Corps retreat
to plan activities for your chapter.
- Host a Ravens football game with
other members and youth volunteers.
- Learn about and coordinate with
AmeriCorps programs and the "Maryland's Promise" goals.
- Evaluate proposals and award the
Maryland Youth Leadership Grant for youth designed
projects.
- Have the chance to meet with other
YAC members in your community and around Maryland.
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What is Teen Court? -Teen Court
is an year-round program that offers teenage offenders
an important second chance - a chance to learn from
their mistakes without the high cost of a criminal record.
Teen Court is a justice program run by teens for teens.
Juveniles aged 12 through 17 who have committed a nonviolent
minor crime appear before a jury of their peers. Teen
Court is offered as a voluntary, positive experience
to divert teen offenders away from a pattern of criminal
behavior. Cases hear in Teen Court involve crimes such
as shoplifting, disorderly conduct, destruction of property
and possession of alcohol. The offender must admit guilt
since this is a disposition hearing to determine consequences.
Who Participates and What is the
Process? - In Teen Court, volunteer teens perform the
roles of the prosecuting and defense attorneys, bailiff,
clerk, and jury. The judge is the only adult directly
involved in the court proceedings. Cases are referred
to Teen Court by the Montgomery County Police Department
and the State of Maryland Department of Juvenile Justice.
The case is presented to the teen jury for determining
consequences for the offender. After careful consideration
of the facts, the jury decides upon a constructive sentence
which will include a minimum number of community service
hours as well as service on other teen juries. Also,
there might be educational programs, essays, and/or
apology letters. There is a graduated set of guidelines
designed for various offense levels. The offender will
be allowed up to sixty days to complete the program.
When this is accomplished, the charges will be dismissed.
Failure to comply with the sanctions within the allotted
time will result in notification to the referring agency
and possible court action.
Who Can Volunteer? - Teen Court
is seeking Montgomery County students in grades 9-12.
Teen Court is generally held bimonthly on Wednesday
evenings from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Benefits in volunteering:
- Learn valuable skills including
public speaking, logical thinking and the operation
of the judicial system
- Earn Student Service Learning
hours
Where is Teen Court Held? - Teen
court meets on Wednesday evenings in the Circuit Court
Building, The Judicial Center, 50 Maryland Avenue, 4th
Floor Jury Lounge, Rockville, Maryland 20850
Who Oversees Teen Court? - Teen
Court is a community partnership administered by the
Montgomery county State's Attorney's Office and supervised
by a Coordinator who manages and directs the overall
activities of the Court. An Advisory Board (comprised
of representatives from the judiciary, Montgomery County
Public Schools, private bar, State's Attorney's Office,
Montgomery County Police Department, State of Maryland
Department of Juvenile Justice, and student representatives)
assists in planning and executing the Court's purpose.
Questions? - Questions regarding
Teen Court should be directed to Georgene DeBord, Coordinator,
at 240-777-7344 or Georgine.DeBord@montgomerycountymd.gov
(www.communityprosecution.org)
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