Indian River student selected for Senate Youth Program

Delaware State News
Posted 2/23/21

WASHINGTON, – Indian River High School senior Augustus Fadden is one of two Delaware students who will join U.S. senators Thomas Carper and Christopher Coons in representing the First State …

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Indian River student selected for Senate Youth Program

Posted

WASHINGTON, – Indian River High School senior Augustus Fadden is one of two Delaware students who will join U.S. senators Thomas Carper and Christopher Coons in representing the First State during the 59th annual USSYP Washington Week, March 14-17.

Gus, of Frankford, and Justin Xu of Hockessin were selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the national student delegation. Each of the 104 students will receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study.

Due to the pandemic, the 2021 program will break ground as the first fully virtual Washington Week. It is designed to be a highly interactive and exciting education and leadership forum for the nation’s most outstanding student leaders.

At Indian River High School, Gus serves as the president of his school's National Honor Society and has been Class president for the past two years, with the current year election pending. He has volunteered for two U.S. Senate campaigns and is founder and chairman of Sussex TeenAge RepublicanS (S.T.A.R.S.). He is vice president of Tri-M Music Honor Society, the leader of the Marching Band Low Brass/Winds Section since 2018 and performs in a gospel band.

Gus has been a member of six All-County and four All-State Band and Choir ensembles, an All-Eastern Concert Band ensemble, and two All-National Concert Band ensembles, and he has been in every school ensemble including Jazz Band, Baroque, Brass and Acapella Choir and Pit Orchestra.

In addition, Gus has earned 15 awards in Marine Corps JROTC and achieved the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He is considering further education at the University of Delaware or West Chester University, or joining the military, and eventually plans to run for public office.

Chosen as alternates to the 2021 program were Timothy McGill, a resident of Wilmington, who attends Brandywine High School and Rachel Brzezicki, a resident of Felton who attends Lake Forest High School.

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 Susan S. Bunting, Ed.D., Secretary of Education.

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

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 extremely competitive merit-based program brings 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. However, this year, the program will be held online.

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.

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