2023 USSYP Yearbook - Flipbook - Page 11
Welcome to
Washington!
A
nticipation mounts as delegates
travel from across the nation and
overseas, until they are met at the local
airports and train station and brought to the
historic Mayflower Hotel. Meeting in person for
the first time, students are welcomed by their
Military Mentors, USSYP alumni and staff. This
year the delegates heard from USSYP alum
Bayan Galal (CT—2019), former Yale University
undergraduate student body president, who
spoke about building upon leadership skills in
college and breaking boundaries in doing so.
After dinner, students gather for an in-depth
orientation defining program rules, logistics and
expectations. They learn new levels of protocol
and decorum to fulfill their roles as public
representatives of their schools, communities and
states. Students are then formally introduced to
their Military Mentors, 17 competitively selected
officers from each service branch. Two Senior
Mentors assist with the overall execution of the
program, and 15 smaller groups of students are
each assigned one Military Mentor to support and
guide them through the exciting and demanding
week to come.
(TOP LEFT)
USSYAA President
Amanda Patarino
(USSYP CO – 2012)
(TOP RIGHT )
Arrival Day Speaker
Bayan Galal
(USSYP CT – 2019)
Former Yale Student
Body President
The United States Senate Youth Alumni
Association (ussyaa.org) has forged and
maintained ties with thousands of program alumni.
In addition to ongoing activities throughout the
year, alumni gather during Washington Week for
the association’s annual dinner and board meeting.
UNITED STATES SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM 2023 | 9
