Welcome To The Senate Youth Question & Answer Webinar For North Carolina

An Informational Session Presenting North Carolina’s Eligibility And Processes

Two Students Will Represent North Carolina

Two high school students are selected each year from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity to serve as delegates to Washington Week.

N.C. will select two delegates and two alternates.

Two winners will serve as North Carolina delegates to Washington , D.C. in March

Alternate #1 will serve if one of the delegates is unable to go to Washington , D.C. in March

Alternate #2 will serve in the event that either alternate #1 cannot go Washington , D.C. in March or if the second delegate is unable to attend.

The student delegates also receive a $5000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue their studies in government and history.

All Information & Materials Can Found On The North Carolina Senate Youth Website

North Carolina Senate Youth Information Websitehttp://senateyouthnc.webs.com/

National Senate Youth Program Websitehttp://www.ussenateyouth.org/selection_process_qualify.php

Areas Covered In This Information Session

North Carolina’s application

Criteria for North Carolina’s essay Intent of writing the essay Points to consider

The digital presentation Expectations Guidelines

Entry submission

Questions and concerns from the attendees

The Process

First round of review

Second round of review

Phase I of the selection process -Essays are read and judged

The top 6-7 are selected to move on to the next phase

Phase II of the selection process –Interview with a panel of judges and taking an exam

Notification of the two winners sent to the Hearst Foundation

Notification of the two winners sent to the winners, their schools and superintendents

Press Release sent to the school districts of the winners

Remember: Submissions Are Due October 4, 2015

Yes, if you are enrolled in a North Carolina public, private or public charter school and your parent/guardian is a resident of North Carolina.

Q. How do students obtain applications and required entry materials?

A. Applications may be obtained in the following ways:

May I Apply In N.C.?

By downloading entry documents from the website themselves

By asking a school official to download and print copies of entry documents for them

By asking anyone with access to a computer and printer to download and print copies of entry documents for them

In North Carolina, students DO NOT have to be nominated or chosen by anyone to apply for the Senate Youth scholarship.

Applications Are DUE October 4, 2015

Be certain that your 2015 application looks like the one below….

You may find a copy at this link: http://senateyouthnc.webs.com/2013ncforms.htm

Submission prior to October 4 is recommended

This will help anyone who may experience technology glitches or failure of any portion of a submission to reach its electronic destination.

Believe it or not students forget to fill out their

name.

In the past students

have mailed in their

information and did not

fulfill the electronic

submission that is also

required.

No application will be

considered without

both submissions.

Both submissions must

meet deadline

requirements.

Students often forget the required

signatures.

Avoid Common Application Mishaps

Avoid Common Application Mishaps

The Required Essay

Each applicant’s essay must:

1. Be typed

2. Be double spaced

3. Have student’s name typed at the top of BOTH pages

4. Not exceed two pages

5. Provide support that offers historical, contemporary and current examples.

2015-16 Essay Prompt: One of the fundamental principles of American

democracy is representative government. Americans are

a nation of people who vote to elect those politicians who

most align with the concerns and issues most important

to them. A common belief is that the more we have

citizens who participate in the political and voting

process, the more democratic our society. It is also

common belief that as fewer citizens vote, the

government becomes less representative and

democracy less democratic. Over the years states

across the nation have increasingly tightened laws

around the voting process by either passing legislation

that would require voters to show photo identification

before being able to vote, or seriously considering it with

proposed legislation. Prepare an essay highlighting

the history and evolution of voting in the United

States. Address the significance of voting and the

principle of representative government. How have

the common beliefs about voting been impacted by

the controversial issue of voter ID laws across the

nation? Do these laws increased democracy and

representative government or do they been limit,

explain? Finally, discuss whether or not these laws

help maintain the freedoms of the American people.

(Please note that a bibliography will be considered separate and will not count as part of the two pages for the essay.)

Digital Presentation Pointers

Students are asked to make sure of the following:

That the presentation is submitted via the email address provided : ncsenateyouth@gmail.com.

That all hyperlinks work.

That volume if used is loud enough to be adjusted up or down on any computer.

That if a presentation is submitted using a link it should be a link in which the selection committee has the ability to download and open.

Students often send in presentations which

cannot be opened or downloaded. WHEN THIS

HAPPENS IT PRESENTS A PROBLEM BECAUSE IF

THE STATE COORDINATOR CANNOT EVALUATE

THE PRESENTATION IN “PHASE ONE” THEN THE

STUDENT’S ENTRY INFORMATION STOPS

THERE AND THEY ARE NOT MOVED ON TO THE

JUDGING ROUND.

Time For Questions & Concerns From Webinar Participants

Any questions or concerns you may have after this webinar please

contact Michelle McLaughlin at michelle.mclaughlin@dpi.nc.gov.

What are your questions?

We look forward to receiving your applications

on or before October 4, 2015.

North Carolina Thanks You For Attending Our Senate Youth Informational Webinar

Find The Recording Of This Webinar & PowerPoint On The North Carolina Senate Youth Website

http://senateyouthnc.webs.com/

Check Out Additional Curiosities About The Program & Frequently Asked Questions On The Next Few Slides

Interested In What To Expect In Washington, D.C.What happens during Washington Week?

Washington Week is an intensive week of educational activities in the nation's capital encompassing the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government as well as a perspective on America from abroad.

Events include meeting with the Senate Co-Chairs, Senate leadership and Senate parliamentarian and historian, a Justice of the Supreme Court, the President, officials from the Departments of State and Defense and other executive agencies, a foreign ambassador to the U.S. and senior members of the media. At each event the question and answer session is extensive giving the students direct interaction with the speaker. A highlight of the week is the annual Senate Youth Program Reception.

The Department of Defense provides a team of selected military officers to accompany the delegates throughout the program.

Interested in…

Travel

It is 100% FREE to the student. All expenses are paid by the Hearst Foundation. You choose your mode of travel (flight, car, train).

Dress/Attire

Dress attire and comfortable shoes. Check out pictures of students during past Washington Week programs.

Activities/Events

Events include meeting with the U.S. Senators from NC as well as other Senators from around the country. Members of Congress and Senate parliamentarian and historian, a Justice of the Supreme Court, the President of the United States, officials from the Departments of State and Defense and other executive agencies, a foreign ambassador to the U.S. and senior members of the media.Among the many visits are those to the Pentagon, White House, Capital, U.S. Senate gallery,, various Smithsonian museums, and the Supreme Court. At each event the question and answer session is extensive giving the students direct interaction with the speaker. A highlight of the week is the annual Senate Youth Program Reception.

School Absence (This Week Is To Be Coded As An Excused Absence For All Students Attending.)

Check out the “Washington Week: Photos” available online at the Hearst Foundation to get a better impression of the type of dress code to expect at all times,

the types of environments and activities you will be involved in, as well as the types of places you will visit and people you will meet. “Washington Week:

Photos” http://www.ussenateyouth.org/washington_photo.php

Questions & Concerns From Webinar Participants…The following are some of the questions asked…

QuestionI have been a member of student government for 3 years but this year we have a new advisor should I get my letter from the new advisor or the old one?AnswerI would suggest that you ask the advisor/sponsor that you feel the most comfortable with giving you a recommendation. If you choose your new advisor, who may not be as familiar with the work you have done, you may like to ask them if theywould like for you to provide them with a list of the accomplishments and contributions, etc. that you have had in working with the student government organization in your school. This may help them write a strong letter of recommendation. You may also try to contact the previous advisor to see if they will write a letter for you.

QuestionOn the website it says that applicants need to send two letters of support. What exactly should those letters be about and who should they be from?AnswerYou will note that the application asks for a letter ofsupport/recommendation from an adult who is the sponsor of the club or organization that you are using as a primary piece of support on your application and a letter from a teacher who can support your academic achievement in aletter of recommendation.

QuestionCan the letters of recommendations be sent to you (Ms. McLaughlin) electronically and by mail, separate from my application?AnswerApplicants should be sure to send in their 2 letters of support both electronically as well as sending them in with their mailed application. We need the hardcopies of theletters because we need the original with the signatures.

Questions Continued

Questions & Concerns From Webinar Participants…The following are some of the questions asked…

QuestionMy school has not offered AP Government class, therefore I am wondering if I would be a competitive candidate when other candidates have already taken AP Govt. in preparation for theHearst exam.AnswerTaking AP Government or another AP course is not a requirementto apply nor can it be considered a guarantee that any candidate who has taken such a course will have an advantage over a candidate who has not taken such a course. Each candidate will have to stand on his/her own merit, accomplishments,academic achievements, knowledge of U.S. government, politics and current events, and the desire to excel.

QuestionHow many questions are in the exam, and what is theduration of the exam?AnswerThe exam in divided into five parts and each part is timed. There may be anywhere from 60 to 80 questions. The exam is objective (multiple choice and true-false). Some years may see the use of the essay exam questions. However, we tend to ask candidates to write a formal essay on a current issue or political practice as a part of the original submission.

QuestionIs there anything that you look for specifically in the application? What usually makes an application stand out to you? Are there any activities that you suggest I do before I turn in my application? AnswerThe best advice that I can share with you is to make certain to follow directions and answer all questions and sections of the process completely. Make sure that you get all requested signatures.

Question In the last 2 years, did all of the student winners take AP Government courses in their high school? If not, what types of AP courses had they completed prior to taking the Hearst Foundation exam in November?AnswerYou do not have to worry about not having taken AP Government. That fact will not hurt you. Actually, only one of the winners in the past two year took AP government. That is not a requirement. So do not worry if you are not taking that course. AP courses are neither a requirement nor a means of any type of advantage in this process.

Questions Continued

Questions & Concerns From Webinar Participants…The following are some of the questions asked…

QuestionDoes the same guidance counselor have to sign both the space on the application to verify the GPA and the space for the counselor’s signature?AnswerNo. You can have the same counselor who verified your GPA to proofread and sign your completed application, but it does not have to be the same person. The rationale for this answer is that by the time you get ready for the counselor to proof and sign your completed application the same person may not be available and you will want to get things signed and in the mail.

QuestionFor the video/digital presentation, is it ok if I play out what I usually do, because Ido not have any footage of my community service, etc? AnswerGood question. If I understand you correctly, you want to know if you can act out what you usually do in some type of dramatization representing things your do and participate in. That is acceptable and it sounds very creative. A great way to think about representing yourself in a presentation if you do not have any photos or video that you can access.

QuestionIf we get called to come to Raleigh for an interview is theinterview with the panel of judges formal?AnswerYes. Candidates should dress in their best interview attire. If you review some of the footage of delegates in D.C. you will get an idea of how to dress. Always put your best foot forward.

QuestionWhat types of questions or information does the exam focusupon? AnswerThe exam is already developed when it is sent to me and is made by the Hearst Foundation based on what they see as important in assessing a student's knowledge of U.S. government.

The exam questions are sent to us by the Hearst Foundation. The questions seek to test your knowledge of the history of government, presidents and presidencies, how government is run, branches of government, current events issues in government, landmark Supreme Court cases and decisions, current justices and their views and how they usually vote, current cabinet members and major leadership positions in congress and who holds them, names of local current and newly elected government officials, etc. There is also a section that has been developed to focus on local NC government and NC government officials. The expectation of a finalist is that being a junior or senior you are knowledgeable of U.S. History and U.S. as well as your local government.