Outstanding: Las Cruces Student Selected for Prestigious U.S. Senate Youth Program

The U.S. Senate Youth Program is a merit-based and highly competitive opportunity that brings outstanding high school students to Washington, D.C. each year.

From the USSYP website: “The mission of the United States Senate Youth Program is to provide a yearly opportunity for selected students to gain an in-depth view of the Senate and the federal government overall as well as a deeper understanding of the interrelationship of the legislative, judicial and executive branches. The program provides a foundation of knowledge and encouragement for those considering a future of public service on the local, state or national level.”

Qualified junior or senior high school students who apply for this opportunity demonstrate leadership through public service in elected positions during the entire school year where they represent a constituency in organizations related to government, public affairs, history and/or community service. 

DoDEA stands for Department of Defense Education Activity and represents  161 schools in 9 Districts located in 11 foreign countries, 7 states, and 2 territories across 10 time zones. There are nearly 900,000 military connected children of all ages worldwide, of which more than 67,000 are enrolled in DoDEA schools and served by more than 14,000 employees.  All schools within DoDEA are fully accredited by U.S. accreditation agencies.

A senior at Las Cruces High School will represent New Mexico later this year as part of the 64^th Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) in Washington, D.C.

Margaret Collins was selected among the state’s top student leaders and will join a delegation of 104 outstanding high school students for an intensive week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it. The program includes meeting with senators, the President, a Supreme Court Justice and other elected officials.

Each delegate also receives a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs.

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At Las Cruces High, Collins serves as an Officer in the National Honor Society and was a founding member of the LCHS Mock Trial team, currently serving as President. As a member of the LCPS Student Advisory Council, Collins attends meetings of the LCPS Board of Education and collaborates with peers across the district, advocating as a student, leader and athlete. She was a participant of the National Hispanic Institute 2024 Dennis Chavez New Mexico Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Program and represented New Mexico at the 2024 Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Associates Youth Leadership Program in Quantico, Virginia. Collins has also participated in programs with FBI offices in Albuquerque and El Paso and worked with the TurnUp Youth Voter Registration to promote voter participation and research legislation. Collins plays varsity tennis and volunteers at school and community events including the Safe Routes to School Bike Fiesta. In college, she would like to study international relations with a focus on national security.  

Collins joins one other New Mexico delegate, Faith Young from Rio Rancho. The two students will join Senator Martin Heinrich and Senator Ben Ray Lujan in Washington. Student delegates were selected by each state’s department of education, including the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activities, after nomination by teachers and principals. The chief state school officer for each state confirms the final selection. This year’s New Mexico delegates were designated by Mariana Padilla, New Mexico Secretary of Education. 

The USSYP is a competitive, merit-based program created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 by the sons of Randolph Hearst and the Senate leadership at that time. The Hearst Foundations have fully funded the program since its inception. Distinguished alumni of the program include former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.