Awardees
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 page provides an archive of DoDEA students selected as United States Senate Youth Program delegates.
Delegates
Alliyah Regala
2025
Alliyah Regala, born in the Philippines and raised all over the world, is a senior at EJ King Middle High School. She currently serves as the Student Council President, National Honor Society Secretary, NJROTC Administrative Officer, in addition to numerous other leadership roles. Alliyah is known for her effervescent, bubbly, and outgoing personality alongside her dedication to mentoring her cadets outside of school and hearing out every single student’s voice. Attending USSYP will help her prepare for her dream of majoring in Political Science and serving as a Foreign Affairs Officer in the military.
Emily Wheeler
2025
Emily Wheeler, a U.S. resident of Colorado, is a junior at Stuttgart High School, Germany, and serves as president of Tri-M Music Honor Society. She is editor of the student newspaper, secretary of the debate club, Model U.N. delegate, and member of the National English Honor Society. She participated in the Colorado Governor’s School, a residential leadership program, earning college credit by completing various community problem-solving projects. Emily is excited to be a DoDEA delegate to the Senate Program and hopes to learn more about her country, its government, and the role journalism plays in a healthy democracy.
Baden Francis
2024
Baden Francis, a U.S. resident, is a junior at Kadena High School in Japan, serves as the vice president of the Junior class, one of many student government roles held throughout his schooling. He is frequently found volunteering in the community and spent several weeks last summer teaching and leading Boy Scouts from across Asia at a leadership training course in Tokyo. Baden is thrilled to represent DoDEA for the Senate Youth Program and anticipates the experience will broaden his understanding of government while cementing his aspirations of future leadership in America.
Robert Rasmussen
2024
Robert Rasmussen, a U.S. resident, is a senior at Vilseck High School in Germany and serves as the battalion commander for his Junior Reserve Officers Training Unit, is an active member of National Honor Society, and participates in both Model United Nations and Model U.S. Senate. Living in Germany since 2016, Robert is passionate about politics and feels the Senate Youth Program experience will give a unique perspective on how the U.S. government functions. He plans on attending the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Kyung Joon Flanery
2023
Kyung Joon Flanery is the student body president for Humphreys High School, located in South Korea. He volunteers at his local elementary school, church, and TaeKwonDo as an instructor throughout the year. Kyung Joon believes that the United States Senate Youth Program will allow him to continue his growth as a leader and citizen.
Olivia Kearley
2023
Olivia Kearley, a junior at Lakenheath High School, England, serves as the Student Body Representative for the Student Council, and Treasurer of the National Honor Society. She is also a DoDEA All-Europe athlete, and volunteers as a camp counselor. Ms. Kearley believes the US Senate Youth Program will give her a clear vision of how to connect her interests to public service and she is honored to represent DoDEA at the 61st annual United States Senate Youth Program Washington Week in March of 2023.
Gabriel Stephenson
2022
Gabriel Stephenson, a U.S. resident of California, is a senior at Lakenheath High School, and serves as president of his senior class and vice president of his school's chapter of Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica. Throughout high school, he has been extensively involved in athletics, academics, and performance arts. Gabriel feels that the Senate Youth experience will provide him with increased insight into government and politics and enable him to better understand his own role in the process of government.
Megan Wills
2022
Megan Wills, a U.S. resident of Florida, is a senior at Alconbury Middle/High School (AMHS), and serves as a class representative in Student Government, the vice president of the National Honor Society and the president of the Student Newsletter Club. She previously served as the AMHS Student Body secretary and Sophomore Class vice president. Since starting high school Megan has dedicated more than 130 hours to community service efforts supporting several worthwhile causes. She believes participation in this program will greatly improve her understanding of the United States government and inform future career interests in public service.
Amanda Wills
2021
Amanda Wills, a U. S. resident of Florida, is a junior at Alconbury Middle High School in England, serves as the president of the Junior Class, ambassador for the Model UN Club, JROTC commander, and secretary of the National Honor Society. Since freshman year, Amanda has performed over 100 volunteer hours giving back to the community. Amanda believes the United States Senate Youth Program will help her explore her interest in government and how our government impacts lives at the federal, state, and local levels.
Caden Burkman
2021
Caden Burkman, a U.S. resident of Colorado, is a junior at Stuttgart High School, serves as the vice president of the Junior class, treasurer/publicist of National Honor Society, lead delegate of Model United Nations and as the founding member of his local chapter of Model United States Senate. Caden plans to attend university to study international relations and would like to one day work for the United Nations. As an active member of his local community logging over 130 service hours, Caden is looking forward to gaining valuable experience and insight during Washington Week to increase his involvement in local and national government.
Edward Balbo
2020
Edward Balbo is a DoDEA student living overseas on a military base on the island of Sicily. Averaging a 4.21 GPA, Edward has been active in many models of government including Junior President, Minority WHIP at Model United States Senate, a delegate at Model United Nations, and DoDEA Military Kid representative in the 2016 inauguration. Edward feels that the Senate Youth program will be a learning experience on how America functions and a catalyst for his goals of majoring in political science.
Sophie Marro
2020
Sophie Marro is a senior at SHAPE American High School in Belgium. She is currently the Senior Class President and also President of the American Legion Junior Auxiliary. She consistently participates in Model UN and varsity soccer, serving as Captain last season. In the summer of 2019, Sophie was selected for Girls State, and subsequently attended Girls Nation as an elected Senator. Sophie has a strong interest in Government service and public policy and believes the USSYP experience will expand upon her interest from a new perspective, while also providing insight for future careers.
| Delegate | School | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Delegate Daniel Posthumus | School Nile C. Kinnick High School | Year 2019 |
| Delegate Shannon Ryu | School Seoul American Middle High School | Year 2019 |
| Delegate Adah Barenburg | School Naples Middle High School | Year 2018 |
| Delegate Mark Keller | School Brussels American High School | Year 2018 |
| Delegate Emma Rook | School Ankara ES/HS | Year 2017 |
| Delegate John Casey | School Ramstein American High School | Year 2017 |
| Delegate Aanand Shah | School Kadena High School | Year 2016 |
| Delegate Kyelee Fitts | School Seoul American High School | Year 2016 |
| Delegate David Neaverth | School Seoul American High School | Year 2015 |
| Delegate Thomas Harwood | School Patch High School | Year 2015 |
| Delegate Avalon Roche | School Kaiserslautern American High School | Year 2014 |
| Delegate Phillip Ramirez | School Vilseck High School | Year 2014 |
| Delegate Danari White | School Seoul American High School | Year 2013 |
| Delegate Makayla Palazzo | School Kubasaki High School | Year 2013 |
| Delegate Jane Rudy | School Brussels American ES/HS | Year 2012 |
| Delegate John Bonney | School Vicenza High School | Year 2012 |
| Delegate Robert DeWitt | School Aviano Middle High School | Year 2011 |
| Delegate Ryan McDonnell | School Lakenheath High School | Year 2011 |
| Delegate Joshua D. Jones | School Kubasaki High School | Year 2010 |
| Delegate Michael A. Zachau Walker | School Ankara High School | Year 2010 |
| Delegate Luke Moragne | School David Glasgow Farragut-Rota | Year 2009 |
| Delegate Michael Boone | School Kaiserslautern High School | Year 2009 |
| Delegate Brianna Fitch | School Brussels American School | Year 2008 |
| Delegate Christopher Brown | School Hanau Middle/High School | Year 2008 |
| Delegate David Zumbach | School Ansbach High School | Year 2007 |
| Delegate Kara Elder | School Bitburg High School | Year 2007 |
| Delegate Anthony Thomas Soroka | School Kadena High School | Year 2006 |
| Delegate Elizabeth Kathleen Michael | School Yokota High School | Year 2006 |
| Delegate Brienna Christine Carroll | School Pusan American High School | Year 2005 |
| Delegate Mark Andrew Norsworthy | School Lakenheath High School | Year 2005 |
| Delegate Cathleen Joy Cauguiran | School Matthew C. Perry High School | Year 2004 |
| Delegate Kerry Ann Yudiski | School David Glasgow Farragut High School | Year 2004 |
| Delegate Joe William McFadden | School Ansbach American Middle/High School | Year 2003 |
| Delegate Timothy Eric Nikolai | School Mannheim American High School | Year 2003 |
| Delegate Deborah Ann Crabtree | School Seoul American High School | Year 2002 |
| Delegate Jillian Jane Rennie | School Lakenheath High School | Year 2002 |
| Delegate Audrey Elizabeth Slayton | School SHAPE American | Year 2001 |
| Delegate Steven Mario Boscovitch | School London Central | Year 2001 |
| Delegate Jai-Sun Lee | School General H. H. Arnold | Year 2000 |
| Delegate Melissa Lea Bell | School Lakenheath High School | Year 2000 |
