NWR Students Selected to Senate Youth Program

Northwest Rankin High School (Rankin County School District) students Joshua Bowman and Nadia Harden were selected to the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) and joined Sen Roger F Wicker and Sen� Cindy Hyde-Smith in representing Mississippi during the 61st Annual USSYP Washington Week in March

Bowman and Harden are both residents of Brandon and finished their senior year They were selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the 104 national student delegation� Each delegate also receives a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study

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� Originally proposed by Senators Kuchel, Mansfield, Dirksen and Humphrey, the Senate leadership of the day, the impetus for the program, as stated in Senate testimony is “to increase young Americans’ understanding of the interrelationships of the three branches of government, learn the caliber and responsibilities of federally elected and appointed officials, and emphasize the vital importance of democratic decision making not only for America but for people around the world�”

Each year this extremely competitive merit-based program provides the most outstanding high school students — two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity — with 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 All expenses for Washington Week are provided by The Hearst Foundations; as stipulated in S�Res�324, no government funds are utilized

Bowman served as the Mu Alpha Theta (Mathematics High School Honor Society) president Additionally, he served as the chapter president of Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, the Student Government executive secretary, the National Honor Society vice president, and the Beta Club secretary Bowman is a National Merit Semifinalist and captained the robotics team

He is an avid trombonist, serving as section leader in his school’s Cougar Bands and a member of the Mississippi All-State Band on tenor trombone Each year, Bowman arranged his school’s involvement in the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign, recycling program and canned food drive� He also organized STEM exposure events for elementary students in his school zone Bowman plans to pursue a degree in chemical engineering, ultimately working in infrastructure or climate policy

Harden served as president of both the National French Honor Society and the Model United Nations� She was also a member of National Honor Society and National English Honor Society

Outside of school, Harden is involved with her church and its service ministries, serving as the leader of the audio-visual team and as one of the overall youth leaders She helps plan events in different programs and volunteers in her church’s monthly food program which serves 600 families

Last summer Harden participated in a six-week State Department program to study the Korean language in Seoul through the National Security Language Initiative for Youth scholarship She plans to pursue a career in the State Department as a diplomat and study international relations in college with a minor in foreign language She then plans to earn a master’s degree in international development

Ian Underwood of Jackson who attends Jackson Preparatory School and Madelyn Berry of Brandon, who attends Northwest

Rankin High School, were chosen as alternates to the 2023 program�

Delegates and alternates are selected by the state departments of education nationwide and the District of Columbia and Department of Defense Education Activity, after nomination by teachers and princi- pals� The chief state school officer for each jurisdiction confirms the final selection�

During the program week, the student delegates attend meetings and briefings with senators, the president, a Supreme Court justice and leaders of cabinet agencies, among others