(FRANKFORT, KY) – Applications are now open for the 2026-2027 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP), a merit-based program that takes the most outstanding high school students from around the country to Washington, D.C., for a week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it.
Two Kentucky high school students will be selected this fall as delegates and will each receive a $12,500 college scholarship in the name of the U.S. Senate, with encouragement to continue coursework in history, government and public affairs.
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) oversees the selection process of two students to be part of the national 104-student USSYP delegation.
Students will attend Washington Week, scheduled for March 6-13, and participate in meetings and briefings with high-level officials from each branch of the federal government. Speakers typically include senators, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, other key policymakers and senior members of the media.
High school teachers and principals are encouraged to nominate qualified high school juniors and seniors to apply. Applications for the 2026-2027 USSYP program are available online and are due Sept. 12.
Applicants should be interested in and participating in leadership, public service and government-related activities. Students will need to submit a transcript, two letters of recommendation, three essay responses, a resume and a signature form as part of the application process.
The semifinalists will interview at the Sower Building in Frankfort on a date to be determined.
KDE will announce the names of the two USSYP delegates and two alternates representing Kentucky in December.
Ethan Morgan, a senior at Marshall County High School, and Patrick Gorbaviy, a senior at Oldham County High School, were selected for the 2025-2026 program.
The U.S. Senate Youth Program was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 and has been sponsored by the Senate and funded by The Hearst Foundations. The 2026-2027 program details are available on the U.S. Senate Youth Program website.
For more information, email awards@education.ky.gov or call KDE Academic Program Manager Rosalind Turner at (502) 564-2000, ext. 4626. Additional information can also be found on the KDE U.S. Senate Youth Program website.
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