Saturday morningQ&A webinar for students interested in applying for the USSYP in NC.

1. Welcome To The Senate Youth
Question & Answer Webinar For North Carolina
An Informational Session Presenting North
Carolina’s Eligibility And Processes

2. 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.

3. All Information & Materials Can Found On The
North Carolina Senate Youth Website
North Carolina Senate Youth Information Website
http://senateyouthnc.webs.com/
National Senate Youth Program Website
http://www.ussenateyouth.org/selection_process_qualify.php

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

9. Avoid Common Application Mishaps

10. 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.)

11. 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.

12. 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?

13. 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/

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

15. 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

16. Questions & Concerns From Webinar Participants…
The following are some of the questions asked…
Question
I 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?
Answer
I 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 they
would 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.
Question
On 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?
Answer
You will note that the application asks for a letter of
support/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 a
letter of recommendation.
Question
Can the letters of recommendations be sent to you (Ms.
McLaughlin) electronically and by mail, separate from my
application?
Answer
Applicants 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 the
letters because we need the original with the signatures.
Questions
Continued

17. Questions & Concerns From Webinar Participants…
The following are some of the questions asked…
Question
My 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 the
Hearst exam.
Answer
Taking AP Government or another AP course is not a requirement
to 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.
Question
How many questions are in the exam, and what is the
duration of the exam?
Answer
The 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.
Question
Is 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?
Answer
The 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?
Answer
You 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

18. Questions & Concerns From Webinar Participants…
The following are some of the questions asked…
Question
Does 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?
Answer
No. 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.
Question
For the video/digital presentation, is it ok if I play out what I usually do, because I
do not have any footage of my community service, etc?
Answer
Good 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.
Question
If we get called to come to Raleigh for an interview is the
interview with the panel of judges formal?
Answer
Yes. 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.
Question
What types of questions or information does the exam focus
upon?
Answer
The 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.