announces that high school students Ms. Gianna Patrice Frank and Ms. Mahika Kavya Malladi will join Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell in representing Washington during the 62nd annual USSYP Washington Week, to be held March 2 — 9, 2024. Gianna Frank of Marysville and Mahika Malladi of Redmond were selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the 104 national student delegation. Each delegate will also receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study.
The USSYP was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 and has been sponsored by the Senate and fully funded by The Hearst Foundations since inception. Originally proposed by Senators Kuchel, Mansfield, Dirksen and Humphrey, the Senate leadership of the day, the impetus for the program as stated in Senate testimony 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."
Each year this extremely competitive merit-based program provides the most outstanding high school students - two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity - with an intensive week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it. 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 program week, The Hearst Foundations provide each student with a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs. All expenses for Washington Week are also provided by The Hearst Foundations; as stipulated in Senate Resolution 324, no government funds are utilized.
Gianna Frank, a senior at Marysville Pilchuck High School, serves as president of the Associated Student Body. She is her school's band president, the Black Student Union president and the National Honor Society president. She excels in track and field, winning several state medals for shotput. At the moment, she plans to study neuroscience or biology in hopes of becoming a pediatric neurologist, but is also interested in looking at a career in education policy. Gianna will also continue to compete in track and field while in college.
Mahi Malladi, a junior at The Overlake School, serves as the Human Services youth commissioner for the City of Redmond where she advises the mayor and Council on budgeting recommendations to enhance quality of life for Redmond residents as well as helps approve funding for nonprofit organizations to serve the community. She represents the student voice as the Diversity, Equity, Justice, and Inclusion student coordinator and the student leader of the South Asian Affinity Space at The Overlake School. Mahi also serves on the Youth Board for the Bellevue Arts Museum to amplify young artists' voices, is on the Youth Advisory Board for LEAH (Leadership Education in Adolescent Health) at Seattle Children's Hospital, and volunteers weekly in the Family and Maternity Center at her local hospital. She's a proud four-year Etsy shop owner selling ethnic dog wear. She plays point guard on her school's basketball team in the winter and runs half-marathons and competes in triathlons in the summer. Mahi plans to attend university to study policy and social justice followed by law school.
Chosen as alternates to the 2024 program were Ms. Georgia Bullard, a resident of Carlsborg, who attends Sequim High School and Ms. Luciana Rejtman, a resident of Redmond, who attends Redmond High School.
Delegates and alternates are selected by the state departments of education nationwide and the District of Columbia and Department of Defense Education Activity, after nomination by teachers and principals. The chief state school officer for each jurisdiction confirms the final selection. This year’s Washington delegates and alternates were designated by Mr. Chris Reykdal, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
During the program week, the student delegates will attend meetings and briefings with senators, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, and leaders of cabinet agencies, among others.
In addition to outstanding leadership abilities and a strong commitment to volunteer work, the student delegates rank academically in the top one percent of their states among high school juniors and seniors. Now more than 6,100 strong, alumni of the program continue to excel and develop impressive qualities that are often directed toward public service. Among the many distinguished alumni are: Senator Susan Collins, the first alumnus to be elected U.S. senator; Secretary of Transportation and former Mayor of South Bend Indiana, Pete Buttigieg, the first alumnus to be appointed as a cabinet secretary; former Senator Cory Gardner, the second alumnus to be elected U.S. senator and the first to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives; former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, the first alumnus to be elected governor; former Chief Judge Robert Henry, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit; former Ambassador to West Germany Richard Burt and former presidential advisors Thomas "Mack" McLarty and Karl Rove. Additional notables include former Lt. Governor of Idaho David Leroy, former Provost of Wake Forest University Rogan Kersh, military officers, members of state legislatures, Foreign Service officers, top congressional staff, healthcare providers and other university educators.
Members of the U. S. Senate Youth Program 2024 annual Senate Advisory Committee are: Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, the 2024 USSYP Democratic Co-Chair and Senator John Barrasso, M.D. of Wyoming, the 2024 USSYP Republican Co-Chair. The full USSYP Senate Advisory Committee consists of the vice president of the United States and the Senate majority and minority leaders who annually serve as the program’s Honorary Co-Chairs; two senators, one from each party, serving as acting Co-Chairs who each have keynote speaking roles, and an eight-member bipartisan Senate panel, four senators from each party, who lend their names in support. Serving on the Advisory Committee for the upcoming program are: Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Senator Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts, Senator Alex Padilla of California, Senator John Boozman of Arkansas, Senator Katie Britt of Alabama, Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota and Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
Questions about your state’s delegates, alternates or state selection process?
Email Roz Thompson or call at (360) 357-7951.
For general information about the United States Senate Youth Program:
Email Program Director Ms. Rayne Guilford or call at (800) 425-3632.
