DoDEA Students Selected for 2025 United States Senate Youth Program

The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) has announced that high school students Ms. Emily Wheeler and Ms. Alliyah Regala will represent the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) during the 63^rd annual USSYP Washington Week, to be held March 1 – 8, 2025. Wheeler, from Stuttgart, Germany and Regala from Sasebo, Japan were selected from among DoDEA’s top student leaders to be part of the national delegation of 104 students who will each receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study.

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.

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, ensuring an inclusive learning environment for all. Attending USSYP will help her prepare for her dream of majoring in Political Science and serving as a Foreign Affairs Officer in the military.

Chosen as alternates to the 2025 program were Aiko Haight from Okinawa, Japan, who attends Kadena High School and Lila Cypers from Rota, Spain, who attends Rota High School.

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. 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. All expenses for Washington Week are also provided by The Hearst Foundations; as stipulated in S.Res.324, no government funds are utilized.

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. Now more than 6,100 strong, alumni of the program continue to excel and develop impressive qualities that are often directed toward public service.

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 DoDEA delegates and alternates were designated by Dr. Beth Schiavino-Narvaez, DoDEA Director. 

During the program week, the student delegates will attend 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. Each year, the Honorary Co-Chairs of the program are the vice president of the United States and the Senate majority and minority leaders.

DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages prekindergarten through 12th grade education programs for school-age children of Department of Defense personnel who would otherwise not have access to high-quality public education. DoDEA schools are located in Europe, the Pacific, Western Asia, the Middle East, Cuba, the United States, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Educational Agencies throughout the United States that serve children of military families.