RIGHT NOW, TWO STUDENTS FROM OUR AREA ARE IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL. THEY’RE SEEING HOW OUR GOVERNMENT OPERATES AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. IT IS A WEEK LONG PROGRAM WITH 100 STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ATTENDING THIS EVENT, AND OUR TWO DELEGATES HAD THE CHANCE TO RUB SHOULDERS WITH TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY PETE BUTTIGIEG, SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ELENA KAGAN, AND OF COURSE, OUR SENATORS BILL CASSIDY AND JOHN KENNEDY. WE CAUGHT UP WITH OUR DELEGATES WHO SAY THIS HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE SO FAR. I HOPE TO BRING SOME OF THIS KNOWLEDGE THAT SOME OF THESE SPEAKERS HAVE GIVEN US BACK TO NEW ORLEANS AND BACK TO LOUISIANA. YOU REALIZE THAT THEY’RE ALL JUST PEOPLE AND, YOU KNOW, NO, BEHIND EVERY GOVERNMENT IS PEOPLE. AND THAT REALIZATION THAT I CAME TO THAT HAS RENEWED MY FAITH IN PUBLIC SERVICE. IMPRESSIVE YOUNG STUDENTS, BOTH DYLAN AND JOSHUA. THEY ALSO EARNED A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP. THE HEARST FOUNDATION
Louisiana students selected for prestigous US Senate Youth Program
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Updated: 12:41 PM CST Mar 8, 2024
Two Louisiana students were chosen for a prestigious national student delegation. The United States Senate Youth Program selected Joshua David Blake and Dylan Gerard Rhoton to join Senator Bill Cassidy and Senator John N. Kennedy to represent Louisiana in the 62nd annual USSYP Washington Week March 2-9 in Washington, D.C. Blake, a student from Mandeville, and Rhoton, a student from Kenner, were selected among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the 104 national student delegation. Both Blake and Rhoton received a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study. About Joshua Blake: Joshua Blake, a senior at Lakeshore High School in St. Tammany Parish Public Schools, serves as the president of the senior class and was selected as the 2023-2024 Student of the Year. He is vice president of the youth and government organization and the National Honor Society, and is secretary for Mu Alpha Theta, the mathematics honor society. As a result of his leadership at Boys State, he was selected as a Louisiana delegate for Boys Nation. While attending Boys Nation, he was elected vice president by his fellow senators. He serves as president of the school’s chapter of the International Thespian Society. He has also earned National Hispanic Recognition and National Small-Town Recognition for his perfect score on the ACT. After completing an undergraduate degree in economics, Joshua plans to attend law school to pursue a career as an attorney. His hopes are high for a career in public service.About Dylan Rhoton: Dylan Rhoton, a senior at Brother Martin High School, serves as the communications officer on the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council. Last year, he served as the national president of Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematics Honor Society, and currently serves as Louisiana Mu Alpha Theta’s state secretary-treasurer. At Brother Martin, Dylan is the vice president of the student council and the president of student ambassadors, and he loves representing the Crusaders beyond the classroom. He has demonstrated strong leadership skills as well as thespian prowess as he takes the stage for school and community theater productions, and he has been trained in ballet, tap, and jazz for nine years. Dylan is a National Merit semifinalist and scored a perfect 36 on the ACT. He was selected as a 2022 student intern for the Suit-Up Program (a national career-readiness and mentoring program) sponsored by the Louisiana Bar Association and was awarded “Most Likely to Succeed” at the 2022 Louisiana Youth Seminar. He maintains an impressive academic record and possesses a keen interest in government. Dylan ultimately aspires to pursue a political and legal career as a federal judge.According to the Louisiana Department of Education, Rhoton and Blake were selected by the state departments of education nationwide and the District of Columbia and Department of Defense Education Activity, after nominations by teachers and principals.
NEW ORLEANS — Two Louisiana students were chosen for a prestigious national student delegation.
The United States Senate Youth Program selected Joshua David Blake and Dylan Gerard Rhoton to join Senator Bill Cassidy and Senator John N. Kennedy to represent Louisiana in the 62nd annual USSYP Washington Week March 2-9 in Washington, D.C.
Blake, a student from Mandeville, and Rhoton, a student from Kenner, were selected among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the 104 national student delegation.
Both Blake and Rhoton received a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study.
About Joshua Blake:
Joshua Blake, a senior at Lakeshore High School in St. Tammany Parish Public Schools, serves as the president of the senior class and was selected as the 2023-2024 Student of the Year. He is vice president of the youth and government organization and the National Honor Society, and is secretary for Mu Alpha Theta, the mathematics honor society. As a result of his leadership at Boys State, he was selected as a Louisiana delegate for Boys Nation. While attending Boys Nation, he was elected vice president by his fellow senators. He serves as president of the school’s chapter of the International Thespian Society. He has also earned National Hispanic Recognition and National Small-Town Recognition for his perfect score on the ACT. After completing an undergraduate degree in economics, Joshua plans to attend law school to pursue a career as an attorney. His hopes are high for a career in public service.
About Dylan Rhoton:
Dylan Rhoton, a senior at Brother Martin High School, serves as the communications officer on the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council. Last year, he served as the national president of Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematics Honor Society, and currently serves as Louisiana Mu Alpha Theta’s state secretary-treasurer. At Brother Martin, Dylan is the vice president of the student council and the president of student ambassadors, and he loves representing the Crusaders beyond the classroom. He has demonstrated strong leadership skills as well as thespian prowess as he takes the stage for school and community theater productions, and he has been trained in ballet, tap, and jazz for nine years. Dylan is a National Merit semifinalist and scored a perfect 36 on the ACT. He was selected as a 2022 student intern for the Suit-Up Program (a national career-readiness and mentoring program) sponsored by the Louisiana Bar Association and was awarded “Most Likely to Succeed” at the 2022 Louisiana Youth Seminar. He maintains an impressive academic record and possesses a keen interest in government. Dylan ultimately aspires to pursue a political and legal career as a federal judge.
According to the Louisiana Department of Education, Rhoton and Blake were selected by the state departments of education nationwide and the District of Columbia and Department of Defense Education Activity, after nominations by teachers and principals.
