The state of Iowa has accepted an invitation to participate in the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP), sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. The program is designed to give young Americans a working knowledge of American political life.
Each year, two Iowa students have the opportunity to spend a week in Washington, D.C. The William Randolph Hearst Foundation pays all expenses. In addition, the two Iowa high school representatives each receive a $5,000 scholarship, subject to scholarship conditions and requirements. The selection of the two Iowa high school representatives is based solely on the outstanding ability and demonstrated leadership qualities of elected junior or senior high school student officers for the 2009-10 school year.
Each high school may nominate one student. Click here for the Iowa Department of Education's letter to Iowa's superintendents and principals about the USSYP Program. Student application materials are attached here or may be downloaded from the DE's Web site at http://www.iowa.gov/educate/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=939&Itemid=1225.
The completed applications must be submitted to Kim Thuente at Heartland AEA 11 by September 25, 2009. Nominees selected from the applicants will be required to take a qualifying examination on October 7th at 1:30 p.m. in the Johnston AEA Computer Lab. The qualifying examination consists of a 45-minute multiple choice, matching and T/F test with questions about government and the U.S. Constitution. The top five scoring students will then complete a 45-minute essay exam.The essays and application materials from the top five scoring students will be submitted to the DE by October 30th for selection of the two Iowa delegates and alternates.
If you have questions please contact Kimberly (Kim) Thuente at (515) 270-0405 or (800) 255-0405 ext. 14372.
Utilize this site to share information with your counselors, keep updated on current issues, find professional development opportunities, obtain forms and guidelines for your counseling program, share curriculum resources and discover much more.
To register, go to: http://205.221.40.124:16080/moodle. Login or click login in the top right corner and follow the directions to create an account.
“Enroll” in the “course” called, School Counseling – Iowa School Counselors (there is no “course”, it is merely the Moodle language).For assistance or questions, please contact Sue Schirmer at sschirmer@aea11.k12.ia.us
Do you have a new school counselor in your district? Looking for ways to improve your school's counseling program? You are invited to participate in the first webinar hosted by the Iowa School Counselor Association (ISCA), the Iowa College Access Network (ICAN) and the Iowa Department of Education on Friday, October 9, 2009 from 2:30-3:30 p.m.A panel of Iowa school counseling leaders will cover the nuts and bolts of starting a comprehensive school counseling program. Participants will also receive a list of valuable school counseling resources and learn about options for networking with other new school counselors in Iowa. Teresa Keefe O’Meara, ISCA President, will moderate the discussion. Participants will have an opportunity to ask the panel specific questions. A PowerPoint will be provided that you can download to adapt to your local school district.To register, go to www.ICANsucceed.org/counselors and click on the link in the News and Events. For more information, contact Erick Danielson at (515) 273-7419 or edanielson@icansucceed.org.
