District of Columbia Students Selected for United States Senate Youth Program

(Washington, DC) - DC high school students Zahra Dinkins and Pierce Lilly will join US Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton in representing the District of Columbia during the 63rd annual United States Senate Youth Program's (USSYP) Washington Week, to be held March 1-8, 2025.

"This prestigious program will allow Zahra and Pierce to deepen their understanding of government and leadership through real-world experiences that bring their classroom learning to life," said Interim State Superintendent Dr. Antoinette S. Mitchell. "We are proud of Zahra and Pierce for earning this incredible opportunity. We know they will represent the District with excellence while gaining invaluable insights that will shape their futures."

Zahra and Pierce were selected from among the District of Columbia's top student leaders to be part of the 104 national student delegation that will attend meetings and briefings with senators, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, and other officials throughout the week. Each delegate will also receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study.

The USSYP was founded in 1962 by the sons of William Randolph Hearst and the senate leadership of the day - Sens. Kuchel, Mansfield, Dirksen and Humphrey. They outlined a plan to encourage America's most talented young people to consider public service as an important, life-long, and noble pursuit, sponsoring Senate Resolution 324, which passed unanimously. As stated in founding testimony, the program strives "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 two outstanding high school students 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. Each student will also receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs. The Hearst Foundations have fully funded the program since inception; as stipulated, no government funds are utilized.

Zahra, a senior at School Without Walls, serves as the senior class secretary and as a representative on the Student Government Association. She is a member of National Honor Society, an AP Scholar with Distinction, and a recipient of the Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction.

In addition to her academic achievements, she demonstrates leadership and communication skills, including as captain of the policy debate team and a volunteer for the Washington Urban Debate League, where she debates and advocates. Through debate competition at regional and national levels including in the Urban Debate national championship, Zahra has developed experience she employs as a middle and high school debate coach. As founder of the Youth Expressions Network, she helps participants develop the power of their own voices.

Zahra has also participated in Civics Unplugged and the Aspen Institute's Our Future Is Science. Beyond academics, Zahra also spends time volunteering at a senior resident facility and channels her creativity as a performer with the School Without Walls Concert Choir and theatre program. Zahra plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in public policy followed by a J.D., with aspirations of dedicating her career to public service.

Pierce, a senior at District of Columbia International School, serves as a member of the Mayor's Youth Advisory Committee. He is the leader of Sea Scout Ship 25, a branch of the Boy Scouts, has gained substantial multicultural experience studying Mandarin, and has honed his confidence and leadership skills through his experience with the Coast Guard.

He is the founding president of his school's Rho Kappa chapter, the National Social Studies Honor Society and has become the first elected president of the Sea Scout Ship 25, achieving the second-highest rank.

Pierce became one of the youngest leaders in the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, where he has represented his area by speaking at district-wide events. He has studied abroad in Taiwan, China, and Ghana, and has raised funds to help young people across the world. At the local level, Pierce has actively engaged in his community in his role as student ambassador for the College Bound organization.

He served on Mayor Muriel Bowser's COVID-19 Youth Advisory Committee during the pandemic and interned at the Transportation Security Administration's headquarters in Virginia and at artificial intelligence and coding camps. His passion for engineering inspired him to collaborate with students from Ghana on addressing local water access issues and mentor elementary students in STEM robotics competitions, resulting in one team he mentored competing internationally.

Pierce hopes to attend the US Coast Guard Academy and become an officer.

Chosen as alternates for the District of Columbia to the 2025 program were Capri Romney who attends Washington Latin Public Charter School and Sharon Patrick who attends Duke Ellington School of Arts.

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 District of Columbia delegates and alternates were designated by Interim State Superintendent Dr. Mitchell.

In addition to outstanding leadership abilities and a strong commitment to volunteer work, the student delegates rank academically in the top 1% of their states among high school juniors and seniors. Now more than 6,200 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 US senator; Secretary of Transportation and former Mayor of South Bend Indiana, Pete Buttigieg, the first alumnus to be appointed as a cabinet secretary; Rep. Sarah McBride, the second alumnus to be elected to the US House of Representatives; former Sen. Cory Gardner, the second alumnus to be elected US senator and the first to be elected to the US House of Representatives, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the first alumnus to be elected governor.

Members of the US Senate Youth Program 2025 annual Senate Advisory Committee are: Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, the 2025 USSYP Republican co-chair and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the 2025 USSYP Democratic co-chair. The full USSYP Senate Advisory Committee includes the vice president of the United States and the senate majority and minority leaders, and four senators from each party who lend their names in support.

Serving on the 2025 Advisory Committee: Sen. Susan M. Collins of Maine, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas, Sen. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota and Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont.

For more information, please visit www.ussenateyouth.org.

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