WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Senate Youth Program announces Delaware high school students Mert Samed Kayabas and Iveena Avighna Mukherjee will join Sen. Thomas R. Carper, D-Del., and Sen. Christopher A. Coons, D-Del., in representing Delaware during the 62nd annual USSYP Washington Week March 2-9.

Mr. Kayabas of Dover and Ms. Mukherjee of Hockessin were selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the 104 national student delegation. Each delegate will also receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study.

Mr. Kayabas, a senior at Caesar Rodney High School, serves as a representative on the Student Council where he works on fundraising and planning school-wide events.

Passionate about swimming, he was a founding member of the Wild Quail Krakens swim team during the COVID-19 pandemic, initially a free community program that was later established as a competitive team. As a two-year captain of the varsity swim team, he facilitates membership and fundraising while fostering a welcoming environment for all to advance in the fundamentals of swimming.

Elected as governor at Boys State, Mr. Mert built diverse connections and secured a judicial internship at the Superior Court of Delaware where he gained knowledge of Delaware's judicial system. He will later move on to an intern position with the Delaware State Senate.

As treasurer of the High School Democrats of Delaware, he helps administer a network of high school students to promote civic engagement among young people and actively promotes a positive environment for all to pursue their political interests.

Dedicated to his Turkish-American community, Mr. Mert is an active member of his local mosque. His commitment to his cultural background is evident as he was inspired to organize the collective community in support of earthquake relief, raising over $1,500 in collaboration with local community leaders. He plans to study political science in college.

Ms. Mukherjee, a senior at the Charter School of Wilmington, serves as the co-chair of communications for the Delaware Youth Environmental Summit. She has presented her earth science research at the United Nations General Assembly 78 Science Summit and was published as first author in a peer-reviewed journal.

As the Student Body vice president last year, she initiated town halls on mental health, academics, and strategic planning in collaboration with five student unions. She co-founded the Roots & Shoots environmental club, whose podcast gained global reach with listeners across six continents, earning an honorable mention from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Recognized as Delaware's Young Environmentalist of the Year, she has also ranked among the top thirty in the nation at the U.S. Earth Science Olympiad Training Camp. Interning for Plastic Free Delaware, she has engaged in conservation conversations statewide.

As co-chair of the New Castle County (NCC) Youth Planning Board, she co-authored documents for the NCC@2050 Comprehensive Plan and presented to planning professionals. Nationally ranked in Extemporaneous Speech, Delaware's state champion for Public Forum Debate, and active in Youth in Government, Ms. Mukherjee served on the State Youth Subcommittee and held roles as national chief justice and Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control secretary. She would like to major in environmental science and public policy in college.

Chosen as alternates to the 2024 program were Mackenzie Elise Langton, a resident of Clayton, who attends Smyrna High School and Tristan Frederick O'Leary, a resident of Dover, who attends First State Military Academy.

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 Delaware delegates and alternates were designated by Dr. Mark Holodick, Secretary of Education.

During the program week, the student delegates will attend meetings and briefings with senators, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, and leaders of cabinet agencies, among others.

In addition to outstanding leadership abilities and a strong commitment to volunteer work, the student delegates rank academically in the top one percent of their states among high school juniors and seniors.

The USSYP was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 and has been sponsored by the Senate and fully funded by The Hearst Foundations since inception.

Originally proposed by Senators Kuchel, Mansfield, Dirksen and Humphrey, the Senate leadership of the day, the impetus for the program as stated in 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."

Each year this program provides high school students — two 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.

The overall mission of the program is to help instill within each class of USSYP student delegates more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service.

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.

All expenses for Washington Week are also provided by The Hearst Foundations; as stipulated in Senate Resolution 324, no government funds are utilized.

For more information, visit ussenateyouth.org.