SHAHEEN, AYOTTE ANNOUNCE NH STUDENTS SELECTED FOR 2012 SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte today announced the names of the two New Hampshire students who have been selected as delegates to the 50th Anniversary United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) that will be held March 3 – 10, 2012 in Washington, D.C.  Ashley Chen of Nashua and Matthew Sanborn of Plymouth were selected to join more than 100 student delegates to attend USSYP’s Washington Week, now in its 50th year.  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 Ayotte and Shaheen will meet with the students that week during a special reception on Capitol Hill.

“It’s a pleasure to congratulate these outstanding young people, 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 them to our nation’s capital.”

Ashley Chen attends Nashua High School South, where she serves as president of the Student Senate, captain of the tennis team, and participates in other school and community activities.  Matthew Sanborn, a senior at Plymouth Regional High School, is class president and captain of the cross country and track and field teams. 

During its 50-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.