Keturah Gadson, a senior at Pattonville High School, was one of two Missouri students selected as delegates to the 55th annual United States Senate Youth Program, which will be held March 4-11 in Washington, D.C.
Gadson and Andrew Stewart Pogue of Clinton were chosen from across the state to be part of the group of 104 student delegates who will attend the program’s 55th annual Washington Week.
The impetus for the program, as stated in U.S. 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.”
I know I will be inspired immensely by the other delegates and all of their amazing accomplishments, and that I will have something to learn from everyone and their inputs and insight on American government,” Gadson told The American.
“The delegates currently have a very large group message going and already the conversations have ranged from wondering about each other’s accents to discussing Israel and Palestine, the election, and other political topics that I have never had the opportunity to discuss in such an open forum with my peers.”
Politics is not new to Gadson. She is senior class vice president at Pattonville High School and serves as the student representative and board president of the Student Administrative Action Committee. She also is president and founder of Triple-A (African American Achievers).
Her other activities include three years of executive board service for her debate team and summer school tutoring in Normandy Middle School. She is a member of the National Honor Society and Rho Kappa Honor Society. She also is a Girls State alumna, a Coca Cola Scholars semifinalist and an All-State Band clarinetist.
“My future plans are to attend a four-year university and to go to graduate school. Although I am undecided, I have strong interests in computer science, educational policy, and eventually law,” she told The American.
“My greatest aspiration has always been to be able to do work that will impact an area of societal need and to inspire others. I am currently most passionate about helping to bring about education reform in a capacity where I can be most beneficial, whether this means I will eventually take up a position in government, be a researcher of new educational strategies, or start a nonprofit organization.
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 and the people who lead it. The overall mission of the program is to help instill within each class of student delegates more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service.
Originally proposed by U.S. Senators Kuchel, Mansfield, Dirksen and Humphrey, the United States Senate Youth Program was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 and has been sponsored by the U.S. Senate. It is fully funded by The Hearst Foundations since inception.
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. Transportation and all expenses for Washington Week are also provided by The Hearst Foundations.
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 Missouri delegates and alternates were designated by Commissioner of Education Margaret M. Vandeven.
While in Washington, student delegates attend meetings and briefings with senators, members of the House of Representatives, congressional staff, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, an ambassador to the United States and senior members of the national media. The students will also tour many of the national monuments and several museums and they will stay at the historic Mayflower Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C.
For general information about the United States Senate Youth Program, contact Program Director Rayne Guilford at (800) 425-3632 or rguilford@hearstfdn.org or visit www.ussenateyouth.org.
