SHAHEEN, AYOTTE ANNOUNCE NEW HAMPSHIRE STUDENTS SELECTED FOR 2013 SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM

(Washington, D.C.) — U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) today announced the names of the two New Hampshire students who have been selected as delegates to the 51^st annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) that will be held March 9 – 16, 2013 in Washington, D.C.  John Parsons of Madbury and Allison Thompson of Nashua were selected to join more than 100 student delegates to attend USSYP’s Washington Week.  Each student delegate will receive a $5,000 undergraduate college scholarship, in addition to the all-expenses paid trip to Washington, both of which are privately funded by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.  Senators Shaheen and Ayotte are scheduled to meet with the students that week during a special reception on Capitol Hill.  Senator Shaheen also serves as a Senate Co-Chair for the USSYP.

“It’s a pleasure to congratulate these outstanding students, who have excelled inside and outside the classroom while making valuable contributions to their local communities,” said Senators Shaheen and Ayotte.  “We look forward to welcoming John and Allison to our nation’s capital.”

John Parsons attends Oyster River High School, where he is vice president of the Class of 2013.  He also serves as the student representative to the school board and is an avid golfer.  Allison Thompson, a senior at Nashua High School South, has served as a class officer for the past four years and as a student representative on the School Futures Committee.  She plans to attend Wellesley College in the fall. 

During its 51 year history, the U.S. Senate Youth Program has brought more than 5,000 young people to the nation’s capital for an intensive week-long study of the federal government.  While in Washington, the student delegates will attend meetings and briefings with Senators and congressional staff, the President, a Supreme Court Justice, cabinet officials, and other government leaders.  The students will also have the opportunity to tour many of the national monuments and historic sites in the nation’s capital.