Riverview Student to Participate in U.S. Senate Youth Program

senior John Connolly has been selected to participate in the United States Senate Youth Program.

The program will be held March 3 to 10 in Washington D.C. It is sponsored by the Senate and fully funded by The Hearst Foundation.

Each year 104 of 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 student delegates more profound knowledge of the American political progress and a lifelong commitment to public service.

The Hearst Foundation will provide each of the 104 student delegates with a $5,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs.

While in Washington the student delegates will attend meetings and briefings with senators and congressional staff, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, an ambassador to the United States and top members of the national media.

The students also will tour many of the national monuments and several museums and they will stay at the historic Mayflower Hotel in downtown Washington D.C.

Connolly, the son of Pat and Fran Connolly of , traveled to Harrisburg in November to .

Connolly serves as president of his Senior Class and of National Honor Society. He is a member of the marching band, stage band and concert band.

In addition, he was a four-year starter on the soccer team and was captain in his junior and senior years. This spring he will compete on the track team where he also is a captain.

Connolly is a member of the Spanish Club, Ski Club, PJAS, RaiderVision, Model UN and Key Club. He also has been part of the school’s spring musical for the past four years. In October, he was .

In eleventh grade, Connolly won the Frederick Douglas & Susan B. Anthony Award and was awarded the Rensselear Medal in Science.