senate youth webinar 2011 2012

United States Senate Youth Program

In North Carolina

Welcome To The North Carolina Senate Youth Information Webinar

This Is An Information and

Question & Answer Session


In North Carolina

North Carolina’s Official Senate Youth Site http://senateyouthnc.webs.com/

http://senateyouthnc.webs.com/

http://senateyouthnc.webs.com/


In North Carolina

Areas Covered In This Information Session

The purpose of the Senate Youth Program Qualifications to apply to attend the program Walk through the N.C. applicationDiscuss some suggestions for submitting a good essayDiscuss the guidelines and expectations for the digital presentationDiscuss how to submit via mail and onlineQuestions and concerns from the attendees


In North Carolina

Let’s Get Started

Two high school juniors or seniors 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 have two delegates and two alternates. Alternate #1 will serve if one of the delegates is unable to go

to Washington in March.

Alternate #2 will serve in the event that either alternate #1 cannot go to Washington 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.


In North Carolina

Students DO NOT have to be selected by anyone to be eligible to apply for Senate Youth program/scholarship! All any student needs to get started is an application and the appropriate forms used in the N.C. selection process.

Students only need to meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the national U.S. Senate Youth guidelines and any additional

eligibility requirements stipulated by the N.C. Senate Youth Delegate selection process!

Read eligibility requirements here:National Senate Youth Requirements

http://www.ussenateyouth.org/selection_process_qualify.php

North Carolina Senate Youth Requirementshttp://senateyouthnc.webs.com/applicationprocess.htm

Can I Apply?




http://senateyouthnc.webs.com/applicationprocess.htm



In North Carolina

The Selection ProcessThe Hearst Foundation’s general guidelines of how are the student delegates can be selected?

Public and private high school teachers and principals nominate qualified students beginning in early fall. To qualify students must hold student body office or another elected or appointed position in their communities and show academic interest and aptitude in government, history and politics. Many states administer a comprehensive public affairs, government and history test prepared annually for the program by a college professor of political science and states may also ask for additional essays and/or personal interviews. The chief state school officer in each state makes the final selection by December 1. The program is merit-based and highly competitive and the chosen delegates are consistently outstanding.

The NC Department of Public Instruction’s guidelines of how are the student delegates will be selected?

Public, private or charter school teachers, guidance counselors and principals nominate or inform qualified juniors or seniors beginning in early fall.Students who feel they are qualified may apply without being nominated, but must have their GPA verified and signatures on their completed applications from their principal, guidance counselor, supporting teacher, and a sponsor from a student government, civic or political organization.

Must be a junior or senior in high school who shows academic interest and aptitude in government, history and politics and who is currently serving in an elected or appointed capacity in student government or a related school or community organization. See: Eligibility in NC

Complete applications must be submitted by the deadline determined.Applicants are notified as to whether the submitted application and materials are accepted or not accepted.Applications begin a process of review and judging in Phase I.Candidates are selected from Phase I to continue on to Phase II.Candidates selected to continue on to Phase II are invited to interview in Raleigh before a panel of judges.Candidates interview and take a qualifying exam.Judges determine the two (2) candidates who will represent NC in Washington, D.C. as well as the two (2) alternates.The NC state school superintendent validates the decision of the panel of judges.The NC Department of Public Instruction’s Senate Youth coordinator notifies the Hearst Foundation by December 1.The Hearst Foundation validates the decision and gives NCDPI approval to notify the selected delegates and alternates.NCDPI sends a press release statement to each selected delegate’s local superintendent and school communication department for their local publication.The program is merit-based and highly competitive and the chosen delegates are consistently outstanding.



In North Carolina

All applications are DUE October 8, 2011Submission prior to October 8 is recommendedThis will help anyone who may experience technology glitches or failure of any portion of a submission to reach its electronic destination.

Make sure that your 2011 application looks like this….

You may find a copy in WORD and PDF at this link: http://senateyouthnc.webs.com/20112012forms.htm

http://senateyouthnc.webs.com/20112012forms.htm


In North Carolina

Believe it or not students forget to fill out their

name.

Don’t forget to send in an

appropriate head and shoulder

photo.

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


In North Carolina

The Essay

Each applicant’s essay must: 1. Be typed 2. Be double spaced 3. Not exceed two pages 4. Provide support that offers historical, contemporary and current examples.

2011 Essay Prompt: The framers of the U.S. Constitution created a presidency that must win cooperation from the U.S. Congress to get the work of government done. The relationship between the U.S. president and its Congress is the most important one in the American political system.

(Any bibliography will be considered separate and will not count as part of the two pages for the essay.)


In North Carolina

Digital Presentation Pointers

Students are asked to make sure of the following:

That the presentation is submitted via the email address provided : [email protected].

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 such as you tube, slide share, etc. it be a link in which the selection committee has the ability to download.

mailto:[email protected]


In North Carolina

Let’s Walk Through The Website

A website for easy online access to information that an interested Candidate would need has been developed to provide direct access to the application, requirements, eligibility, qualifications, and links to the Hearst Foundation.

Let’s briefly walk through the actual website together.

If you have any questions as we go through the website feel free to type it into the chat box provided in the webinar dialogue box.




In North Carolina

What Happens After The Applications Are Submitted October 8, 2011?

My materials have been submitted. Now what?First round of reviewSecond round of reviewPhase I of the selection process -Essays are read and judged

The top 6 are selected to move on to the next phasePhase II of the selection process –Interview with a panel of judges and taking an examNotification of the two winners sent to the Hearst FoundationNotification of the two winners sent to the winners, their schools and superintendentsPress Release sent to the school districts of the winners


In North Carolina

Let’s Discuss 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.

I’m really interested in…TravelDress/AttireActivities/EventsSchool Absence (Should Be Coded Excused)

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

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


In North Carolina

Time For Questions & Concerns From Webinar Participants

Any questions or concerns you may have after this webinar please

contact Michelle McLaughlinat [email protected]

What are some of your questions?

mailto:[email protected]


In North Carolina

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


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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


In North Carolina


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.


In North Carolina

We look forward to receiving your applications

on or before October 8, 2011.

Thank You For Attending Our “Senate Youth Informational Webinar”

senate youth webinar 2011 2012

Education

student delegates

senate youth guidelines

student government

chosen delegates

related school

nc state school superintendent

qualified students

student needs