WICKER, HYDE-SMITH CONGRATULATE MISS. STUDENTS SELECTED FOR U.S. SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM
Two High School Students from Gulfport Will Represent State, Receive Scholarships
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today congratulated Shayleen Moeini and Jackson Pearce, both of Gulfport, on their selection to represent Mississippi at the 63rd annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Washington Week.
The 2025 USSYP Washington Week is scheduled for March 1-8, 2025, during which Moeini and Pearce will attend meetings and briefings with senators, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, and other officials. Each delegate will also receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study.
“I congratulate Shayleen and Jackson for being selected to be part of this competitive program,” Senator Wicker said. “They deserve this opportunity. Both students have demonstrated commitment to community service, extracurricular activities, and their studies. I have no doubt they will represent our state well.”
“I offer my most sincere congratulations to Shayleen and Jackson for being selected to represent Mississippi as part of this prestigious program. Their hard work, dedication to academics, student government involvement, and community service have truly set them apart. I am confident they will represent our state with distinction, and I look forward to meeting them,” Senator Hyde-Smith said.
Moeini, a St. Patrick Catholic High School senior, serves as the president of the National Honor Society and vice president of the Student Council. She plans to study biology and policy at Columbia University.
Pearce, a senior at Gulfport High School senior, serves as a representative on the Mississippi Department of Education Student Advisory Council and president of Youth Legislature and Model UN. He plans to double major in aerospace engineering and public policy at the University of Alabama or major in public policy at Yale University.
Alternates to the 2025 program are Braden Overby of Mendenhall who attends Simpson County Academy and Lindan Garner of Madison, a student at Jackson Preparatory School.
The Mississippi State Department of Education selected the Mississippi delegates and alternates from students nominated by teachers and principals. The chief state school officer for each jurisdiction confirms the final selection.
The USSYP was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962. It has been fully funded by The Hearst Foundations since its inception. No government funds are used.
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