Columbia, S.C. - State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman announced today the names of the two students who have been selected as delegates to the 55th Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) that will be held March 4–11, 2017, in Washington, D.C.

 

The delegates selected to represent South Carolina are Lee Adi (Carolina Forest High School) and Douglas Keith “Trey” Stewart (Mauldin High School).

 

Lee Adi, daughter of Zur and Michelle Adi of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is a senior at Carolina Forest High School in the Horry County School District. Lee currently serves as the Student Body President at Carolina Forest High School. 

 

Douglas Keith “Trey” Stewart, son of Doug and Stacy Stewart of Simpsonville, South Carolina, is a senior at Mauldin High School in the Greenville County School District. Trey currently serves as the Treasurer for the Spanish National Honor’s Society at Mauldin High School. 

 

"Lee and Trey represent the highest level of academic achievement that we strive for every student to obtain. I congratulate them on this prestigious honor and look forward to their future accomplishments," said State Superintendent Molly Spearman.

 

Chosen as alternate delegates to the 2017 USSYP program were Megan A. Simmons (River Bluff High School) and Wilson Banks Spearman (Fort Mill High School).   

 

Megan A. Simmons, daughter of Kevin and Patricia Simmons of Lexington, South Carolina, is a senior at River Bluff High School in Lexington School District One.  Megan currently serves as President of the River Bluff High School Young Democrats Club.  

 

Wilson Banks Spearman, son of Jerry and Liz Spearman of Fort Mill, South Carolina, is a junior at Fort Mill High School in York School District Four. Wilson currently serves as Junior Class Student Council Representative at Fort Mill High School. 

 

The USSYP was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 and has been sponsored by the Senate and fully funded by the Hearst Foundation since its inception. The program was established to “to increase young Americans’ understanding of the interrelationships of the three branches of government, the caliber and responsibilities of federally elected and appointed officials, and 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 brings 104 of the most outstanding high school students—two from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity—to Washington, D.C., for an intensive week-long study of the federal government.  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 student delegates attending Washington Week, the Hearst Foundation will provide each of the 104 student delegates with a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue their educational coursework in government, history and public affairs. Transportation and all expenses for Washington Week will be provided by the Hearst Foundation.  No government funds are utilized.

The chief educational officer in each state selects the delegates after nominations by school principals and school USSYP counselors.  This year’s delegates were designated by Molly Spearman, South Carolina’s State Superintendent of Education.