Ranchos student selected for Senate Youth Program
Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich recently announced the names of two students who were selected as delegates to the 55th annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP).
The program takes place March 4-11 in Washington, D.C.
One of the students is Ranchos de Taos resident James Michael Valerio. The other student selected is Irene Tenaya Fernald, of Las Cruces. The two were chosen from across the state to be part of a group of 104 student delegates who will attend the program.
Valerio attends Taos High School and serves as the New Mexico State Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) president. He is the president of the local chapter of the National Honor Society, founding member and current president of his school’s Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlan (MECHA) club, participates and holds office in local town government and is a member of his high school’s mariachi group. Valerio has also completed an internship in the surgical department at Holy Cross Hospital in Taos.
The impetus for the program 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,” a news release stated.
Each year, the competitive merit-based program identifies outstanding high school students — two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity — to D.C. for an intensive weeklong study of the federal government and the people who lead it.
In addition to participation in the program week, the Hearst Foundations will give each student a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs. Transportation and all expenses for Washington Week are also provided by the Hearst Foundations.
