Joshua Blake of Mandeville and Dylan Rhoton of Kenner among top student leaders to be part of national student delegation and receive $10,000 scholarship
(BATON ROUGE, LA) - The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) announced that high school students Joshua David Blake and Dylan Gerard Rhoton will join Senator Bill Cassidy and Senator John N. Kennedy in representing Louisiana during the 62nd annual USSYP Washington Week March 2-9 in Washington, D.C. Joshua Blake of Mandeville and Dylan Rhoton of Kenner 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.
“Congratulations to each of these exceptional young leaders for this prestigious honor,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “This program rewards academic excellence and exemplifies the vital role civics education and public service play in shaping our future.”
Each year this extremely competitive merit-based program provides the most outstanding 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.
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.
Joshua Blake, a senior at Lakeshore High School in St. Tammany Parish Public Schools, serves as the president of the senior class and was selected as the 2023-2024 Student of the Year. He is vice president of the youth and government organization and the National Honor Society, and is secretary for Mu Alpha Theta, the mathematics honor society. As a result of his leadership at Boys State, he was selected as a Louisiana delegate for Boys Nation. While attending Boys Nation, he was elected vice president by his fellow senators. He serves as president of the school’s chapter of the International Thespian Society. He has also earned National Hispanic Recognition and National Small-Town Recognition for his perfect score on the ACT. After completing an undergraduate degree in economics, Joshua plans to attend law school to pursue a career as an attorney. His hopes are high for a career in public service.
Dylan Rhoton, a senior at Brother Martin High School, serves as the communications officer on the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council. Last year, he served as the national president of Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematics Honor Society, and currently serves as Louisiana Mu Alpha Theta’s state secretary-treasurer. At Brother Martin, Dylan is the vice president of the student council and the president of student ambassadors, and he loves representing the Crusaders beyond the classroom. He has demonstrated strong leadership skills as well as thespian prowess as he takes the stage for school and community theater productions, and he has been trained in ballet, tap, and jazz for nine years. Dylan is a National Merit semifinalist and scored a perfect 36 on the ACT. He was selected as a 2022 student intern for the Suit-Up Program (a national career-readiness and mentoring program)sponsored by the Louisiana Bar Association and was awarded “Most Likely to Succeed” at the 2022 Louisiana Youth Seminar. He maintains an impressive academic record and possesses a keen interest in government. Dylan ultimately aspires to pursue a political and legal career as a federal judge.
Chosen as alternates to the 2024 program were Emily Jane Nevils, a resident of Winnfield, who attends Winnfield High School and Emma Marie Bonney, a resident of Prairieville, who attends St. Joseph's 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. For more information, visit ussenateyouth.org.
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