State High student will represent Pennsylvania in U.S. Senate Youth Program

As many local students plan on packing up for spring break or catching up on sleep, one State High junior will be heading to the U.S. Capitol.

Claire Chi will be one of two delegates representing Pennsylvania as part of the United States Senate Youth Program. The program invites 104 students from across the U.S. to take part in conversations from March 4-11 with senators, a Supreme Court justice and President Joe Biden.

The students, who go through a rigorous selection process by their state education departments, are awarded a $10,000 scholarship as part of the program.

Started in 1962, the USSYP’s Washington Week aims to help students understand the role of the federal government, the responsibilities of elected officials and the democratic process.

“As a Pennsylvania delegate, I am very excited to meet with President Biden at the White House, tour the U.S. Supreme Court with a Supreme Court justice, and talk with Senator (Bob) Casey about public service and leadership,” Chi said in a press release.

Chi serves on the Pennsylvania Board of Education as a student representative and on the State High Leadership Council. She is captain of the Public Forum Debate Team, a TedxPSU 2023 speaker and started the nonprofit organization Dancing Against Hunger to promote the performing arts and help alleviate food insecurity.

“In my continued work with Claire, I have found her to be an open-minded, responsible, and intelligent student who enjoys challenges and advocating for the rights of all students. She exemplifies everything positive at our school,” Laura Tobias, principal at State High said in the release.

This story was originally published January 12, 2023 at 3:30 PM.