**A student must meet the eligibility criteria to apply to the United States Senate Youth Program in the state of North Carolina.**

Any high school JUNIOR or SENIOR, in North Carolina, enrolled in a public, public charter, private, or homeschool association may apply on his/her own initiative.
Students DO NOT have to be selected, nominated, or given permission by their school or an official in the school to apply to the U.S. Senate Youth Program in North Carolina.
Students must be able to show demonstrated leadership by serving in ELECTED or APPOINTED positions in which they are actively representing a constituency in organizations related to student government, education, public affairs, and community service.
A student applying for the Senate Youth Program opportunity should be a CURRENT participant in leadership, public service, and government or civics-related activities within their school and/or community.
A student applying must serve in their qualifying position for the ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR.(See Qualifying Positions in the Chart Below).
A student MUST be in the elected or appointed qualifying position as of October 1 of the school year in which the application is submitted.
The student must also be able to show a PRIOR HISTORY of leadership, public service, and government or civics-related activities.
The organization a student plans to use to qualify them as meeting eligibility requirements must have a SERVICE COMPONENT and must have at its core mission the goal of serving a constituency of students or people through the representation of elected or appointed positions. Always remember that public service is the core mission of this program.
Selection will be based on the student’s outstanding abilities and demonstrated qualities of leadership in an elected or appointed student office, that a student holds for the entire school year. The primary purposes of the qualifying leadership position must be a representation of a constituency and service to others.

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Eligibility Survey: Take This Quick Survey to Ensure You Meet the Minimum Requirements to Apply!

YES

Positions and Circumstances that DO Qualify Students for Eligibility

NO

Positions and Circumstances that DO NOT Qualify Students for Eligibility

Students MUST OFFICIALLY be in the position used that will serve as the position of eligibility on the date the application is submitted.

Be a junior or senior in their 11th or 12th grade year of high school. A student who is a senior in the 5th year of a five-year program at an early college would not qualify.
Currently, be enrolled in one of the following types of 9-12 schools in North Carolina:
1. Public
2. Charter
3. Private
4. Homeschool associations
Be a legal permanent resident or citizen of the United States,
Have at least one parent or guardian who is a legal resident of North Carolina,
Be currently serving in an elected or appointed leadership position in any one of the following during the entire academic school year:
1. Student Body President, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer
2. Class President, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer
3. A Student Council representative
4. A National Honor Society officer (this may include a discipline-based Honor Society that incorporates service components, such as the National English Honor Society, Social Studies Honor Society, etc.)
5. A Student Commander for JROTC - The position of JROTC Commander must be an entire one-year position.
6. A Student Representative elected or appointed by a panel, commission, or board to serve on a local, district, or state-level civic and service-related organization. In this capacity, the student must hold a position of representation to a constituency that provides service to others. This position must be approved by the USSYP coordinator for the student's state.

Any of the activities mentioned below may be used to support a candidate's overall portrait of leadership BUT MAY NOT be used as the qualifying position of eligibility. Keep in mind that public service is the core mission of this program.

Attendance to or holding an officer position at Boys or Girls Nation or State summer conference DOES NOT qualify a student for USSYP.
Being a member of the National Honor Society DOES NOT qualify a student for USSYP(although serving as an elected officer for the organization for the entire school year is acceptable).
A founder or chairperson of a self-created group DOES NOT qualify a student for the USSYP
A participant, captain, or officer in Mock Trial, Debate Team, Model UN or other academic clubs, conference, or competition DO NOT qualify a student for the USSYP.
JROTC leadership other than "commander" DOES NOT qualify a student for the USSYP.
Participation or holding an officer position in academic clubs and/or educational competitions or conferences DOES NOT qualify a student for the USSYP.
A student who graduates or officially completes their high school coursework at the end of the fall semester is NOT eligible to apply for the USSYP.

Additional explanation:

A leadership position for a student’s academic enrichment experience like Mock Trial, Model UN or Debate Team does not qualify because it is not primarily in the service of others or representing a constituency of peers.
Participation in Boys or Girls State, or the HOBY leadership seminar DOES NOT qualify a student, although many of the students take part in these activities. Leadership positions in religious organizations or clubs may not be used as qualifying positions.

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