Interior offers scholarships to HS students

The U.S. Department of the Interior is encouraging top high school student leaders, grades 9-11, to apply for one of three full scholarships being offered by Interior, to attend a Junior Statesmen Summer School session in the States.

The scholarships cover all tuition costs and round trip transportation to the Summer School of the students’ choice.

Summer School students take exciting level courses in American Government and Speech, while they develop and polish their leadership skills.

Month-long sessions of the Junior Statesmen Summer School are conducted on the prestigious university campuses of Stanford (near San Francisco), Princeton University (near New York), Yale (near New York) and Georgetown (in Washington, D.C.).

Highlighting each Summer School session is a high level speakers program which gives students a chance to meet and question legislators, other elected officials, judges, reporters, political campaign consultants, and others in the political arena.

Each night, Summer School students debate controversial political issues in a simulation of the United States Congress.

Admission to the Summer School is competitive. Admission decisions are based on an applicant’s academic achievement, leadership, and interest in politics or government. TO apply, students submit a copy of their high school grades, a 3-page personal essay, a recommendation form from a counselor or teacher and a Scholarship Application.

Tuition, which covers all academic expenses, housing and meals for the month, is $4,150. Transportation to the school is not included in the tuition.

For 16 years, Interior has offered full tuition and transportation scholarships to the Junior Statesmen Summer School to outstanding high school students in Guam, the C.N.M.I., the Republic of Belau, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa; three scholarships per insular area. In the past sixteen years, 321 students from Guam, 317 students from the C.N.M.I. and 154 students from the Republic of Belau have attended The Junior Statesmen Summer School.

The postmark deadline for Guam Student Applications is Jan. 10, and the postmark deadline for CNMI Student Applications is Jan. 17. Department of Interior Scholarship decisions are made by The Junior Statesmen Summer School Admissions Committee.

Department of Interior Scholarship award decision are based on an applicant’s academic achievement, leadership and interest in politics or government as exhibited in the Summer School application materials (essay, transcript, and teacher recommendation) along with the scholarship application.

Sherry Carpenter, territorial recruiter for the Junior Statesmen Summer Programs, will visit Guam on Dec. 4-10, and the CNMI on Dec. 10-16. Carpenter will be visiting local high schools to recruit outstanding students for the Summer School and Department of the Interior Scholarships.

During her visit, Carpenter will meet with interested students and school officials at each high school as well as parents, political officials and community leaders.

For more information about Junior Statesmen Summer School and Interior Department scholarships, contact on Saipan: Christi Omengebar at 285-2362, or Jeff Schorr at the Interior Office at 234-8861. In Guam, contact Associate Superitendent Eloise Sanchez 671/475-0446. [B][I](PR)
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