Naperville student in the running for prestigious U.S. Senate program

A Naperville student was selected as an alternate delegate to the prestigious United States Senate Youth Program.

Each year, the program invites 104 students like Naperville North High School's Anastasia Golovashkina from across the country to visit Washington, D.C., for a special lesson in government and politics. If either of two Illinois delegates are unable to participate in the program, Golovashkina may take their place.

“You get to meet politicians who are really successful and make a difference,” Golovashkina said. “I'm really passionate about government and politics. If I get the opportunity to attend, I will definitely take it.”

Sen. Mark Kirk, a Republican from Highland Park, said the “program offers the best and brightest of our high school students a unique look at how our three branches of government are intertwined.”

To be selected for the program, students must be academically ranked in the top 1 percent of their class, and demonstrate leadership skills and a commitment to public service.

Golovashkina is a member of student government, Junior Statesmen of America and volunteers as a literacy tutor.

Teachers and principals nominate potential delegates, who are then selected by their state's chief education officer. In Illinois, this is State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch.

If selected, students receive a $5,000 undergraduate college scholarship and a weeklong trip to Washington, D.C., in March. There, they attend meetings and briefings with the president, senators and congressional staff, a Supreme Court justice, cabinet agency leaders, a U.S. ambassador and top members of the national media. Students also tour many of Washington's national monuments and museums.

The U.S. Senate Youth Program has been funded by the Hearst Foundation since its inception 49 years ago. It was established to instill a profound knowledge of the U.S. political process and a lifelong commitment to public service in top high school students. The program has produced current politicians such as U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie.