Audrey Mann of New Orleans and Grant Suire of Crowley selected to participate in the first online USSYP program and receive $10,000 scholarship
BATON ROUGE, La. -- The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) announced that high school students Audrey Wiles Mann and Grant Wilson Suire will join Senator Bill Cassidy and Senator John N. Kennedy representing Louisiana during the 59th annual USSYP Washington Week, held March 14-17. Mann and Suire were selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the 104 national student delegation who will each also receive a $10,000 college scholarship. Due to the pandemic, the 2021 program will break ground as the first-ever 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.
“Congratulations to Audrey and Grant on earning this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley, who designated this year’s delegates. “As a former civics teacher, I understand the importance of educating our students to be engaged citizens who continue our work towards a more perfect union.”
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.
Mann, a senior at Benjamin Franklin High School, serves as vice president of the Senior Class, vice president of the Student Council and is a four sport varsity athlete. Her ability to lead and serve is also evidenced by her prolonged involvement as a school ambassador, with community service organizations, and as the captain of each of her sports teams. She has earned an AP Scholar with Distinction recognition as well as being selected as a National Merit Semifinalist and a Presidential Scholars candidate. Audrey plans to pursue undergraduate and Master’s degrees in political science and mathematics.
Suire, a senior at Episcopal School of Acadiana, serves as the senior class president and the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council president. A member of the Cum Laude Society, he has served as captain of his school’s quiz bowl team for two years and as governor of Louisiana’s YMCA Youth & Government program. He has demonstrated strong leadership skills, a passion for the democratic process and a sincere desire to serve those around him. Born on Independence Day and named after two American presidents, Grant maintains an impressive academic record with a keen interest in political science, debate and history. He plans to study international relations and economics and ultimately aspires to a career in public service and diplomacy, working to unite people around the world and secure liberty for all.
Alternates to the 2021 program are Sarah Briery, a resident of Shreveport, who attends C. E. Byrd High School and Sameer Tirumala, a resident of Shreveport, who attends Caddo Magnet High School.
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. 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 overall mission of the program is to help instill student delegates with 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.
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. For more information please visit: www.ussenateyouth.org.
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