A Special Message froM the
President of the
United States
The 2021 USSYP delegates were assured they were in a Zoom like no other when the president of the United States made a surprise appearance with a personal message of congratulations. “You are part of one of the most talented, tolerant and gifted generations in American history,” he began, “and we need you!” President Joe Biden exhorted the delegates to apply their talents to surmounting the great challenges facing the nation: the pandemic and economic crisis, climate change, the reckoning on race and the health of our democracy and place in the world. “I hope you will learn from each other in the same way that I learned from my colleagues for 36 years in the Senate,” he counseled. “Whether from red states or blue states, small states or big states, we became friends. We got to know each other’s families. We would debate an issue hammer and tongs, but we would always see a colleague as a fellow American.” The president then shared one of the greatest lessons he learned as a senator: “It was okay to question another person’s judgment, but it was never okay to question their motive. Once you do that, it becomes almost impossible to find common ground to forge consensus in the government, and that is what we need today, consensus.”
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
addressing the delegates
Senator
Tammy
Baldwin
of Wisconsin
Democratic Co-Chair of the 59th Annual United States Senate Youth Program
Bio
“Senator Baldwin has dedicated herself to furthering equity by demanding fair treatment for all Americans,” said Wisconsin delegate Anika Larson in her introductory remarks for the 2021 USSYP Democratic Co-Chair. The Senator then engaged in a deep discussion of her life in public service and her core principles. From the Dane County Board of Supervisors to the U.S. House of Representatives and then the U.S. Senate, she rose through each office motivated to help a wider constituency. Senator Baldwin is also the first openly LGBTQ woman elected to the House and the Senate, in 1999 and 2013, respectively. “Everyone brings their life experience to their jobs,“ she noted. “You don’t leave it at the door like a coat check.”
A particular experience was a case in point. Having endured a lengthy hospital stay at age nine that was not covered by insurance, the senator fought for provisions in the Affordable Care Act to expand access to health insurance for young people. Illinois delegate Yvin Shin asked the senator about breaking barriers. “When you break a glass ceiling, whatever sort of ceiling that is, for women, members of the LGBTQ community or for people of color, it is an extraordinary responsibility and an honor, to inspire others,” she said. “All of you in this program are leaders — you can be that inspiration.” Breaking barriers also expands the debate, she noted. “There’s an old expression: If you’re not in the room, the conversation is about you, and if you’re in the room, the conversation is with you.” A diversity of backgrounds in policymaking makes the country stronger, she asserted: “Particularly in legislative bodies, it’s great when those legislative bodies look like America.”
Senator Tammy Baldwin
speaking with students
Senator James Lankford
speaking with students
Republican Co-Chair Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma focused immediately on the importance of finding common ground. “We’ve always had disagreements, and people trying to push each other down, but as Americans we find a way to work out our differences and are able to move forward together,” said the junior senator from the Sooner State who served for 15 years as the director of student ministry for the Baptist Convention of Oklahoma and as director of the largest youth camp in the United States.
Clearly in his element, the senator held an animated discussion spanning issues of climate change, March Madness basketball, his Taxpayer Right to Know legislation, the place of deep religious faith in public life and the fate of the filibuster in the Senate. Reflecting on the wide arc of topics, Senator Lankford remarked, “There is something very powerful when we engage in serving people around us on issues of race, poverty, homelessness – we are given opportunities to be able to serve our neighbor. That is where we get our greatest joy. I find when we fight the most is when we are serving the least, so, if we do a lot more serving, we’ll do a lot less fighting and find some real joy in the process.” Senator Lankford’s exposure to public service began at a young age as the child of an elementary school librarian, as noted by Oklahoma delegate Sean Kuehn. The senator was certain that his mother would be thrilled to learn of her recognition at the USSYP. With encouragement to “Be genuine. Be who you are,” the senator shared how proud he was of the accomplishments that the USSYP class of 2021 had already achieved, and that he will be watching to see where their bright futures will lead.
Senator
James
Lankford
of oklahoma
Republican Co-Chair of the 59th Annual United States Senate Youth Program
Bio
Clarence
Thomas
associate
justice of
the Supreme
Court
Discussing life, motivation, ambition and the law
Bio
Justice Clarence Thomas began by generously sharing the story of his rise from a small town in Georgia to the highest court in the land. “What keeps you going are your dreams,” he said, “not what’s right in front of you, but what you hope it could be.” Although online, the annual USSYP Supreme Court event allowed the opportunity for many questions. Marissa Meador of Indiana asked about how Americans could become more informed about the Constitution. “Inform yourself,” Justice Thomas responded. “The better informed you are, the better you will be able to help others. If you want to teach, you have to learn first.” He enjoined the students to use the Supreme Court website to review cases in depth by reading the briefs.
As for qualities he looks for in his law clerks, Justice Thomas cited ability, work ethic and intense self-motivation. “There is also intellectual honesty,” he added. “We will look things right in the eye and say what we see.” Regarding the work environment in his chambers, Justice Thomas offered lasting career advice: “Learn to both receive and give criticism in a constructive way – that’s very hard,” he noted. “And always treat each other well. Just because you are upset at something, it doesn’t give you license to be unpleasant.”
Justice Thomas fondly described his years of service on the Court, and the deep connection among his colleagues, that “have become a family.” Georgia delegate Faith Townsend shared powerful sentiments in her appreciation remarks: “Your service constantly reminds us that the power of the United States lies not in our founding documents themselves but in the selfless protectors of them, like you.”
Photo courtesy of C-SPAN
U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Todd Chapman discusses diplomacy and foreign policy with USSYP delegates from his post in Brazil
Embassy Tour of U.S.
Embassy Brasilia, Brazil
State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter speaking with delegates from State Department headquarters in D.C.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken addresses the 2021 delegates from his first overseas visit to Japan and Korea, encouraging the students to consider careers at the State Department
Foreign Service Officers Katherine Ordoñez (top left) and Manuela Hernandez (top right) speak with the delegates from their offices in Brazil
A VIRTUAL VISIT TO THE
Department of State
“I know that foreign policy can sometimes feel remote,” began Antony Blinken in his remarks from Tokyo, “but, in fact, it is directly connected to your life and your future.” The new secretary of state was taking part in a nearly 60-year Washington Week tradition of the USSYP visit to the Department of State. But this year was a chance to take that visit on the road.
U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Todd Chapman gave an overview of the Foreign Service mission. “Everywhere we go, we are all ambassadors,” he said, speaking from Brazil. “People are looking to us to reflect the best of America and to demonstrate our values.” Career Foreign Service Officers in Brazil Katherine Ordoñez and Manuela Hernandez also offered first-hand observations about life as diplomats.
From State Department headquarters in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of D.C., Principal Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter described her function, applying her wealth of Capitol Hill experience in policy and communications. She addressed questions ranging from world “hot spots” in crisis to the responsibility of being a groundbreaker as a woman of color and former professional dancer, bringing new sensitivities to her official post. Secretary Blinken’s closing remarks inspired many: “If diplomacy holds your interest, explore it further. Start following world events. Study another language. Learn about other cultures and consider applying for an internship with us when you are a college junior or senior. We’d love to have you.”
Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the
National Institutes of Health
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the
National institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases
Sharon Milgram, Director of the NIH Office
of Intramural Education and Training
DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
A Virtual Visit to the National Institutes of Health
NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins, who began his career as a leader on the Human Genome Project, assured delegates that when he was their age, he had no specific career pathway mapped out. The only presidentially appointed NIH director to serve more than one administration told the delegates, “I sure didn’t have a career plan when I was in your seats. Life is not likely to go along with plans that are put forward too far out because things change – new doors open and other doors close.”
Seated in his home study with shelves bulging with books and papers, Dr. Collins spoke of the impact that COVID-19 has had on society. He stressed the importance of balancing mental health and stress reduction as part of our daily routines during challenging times. Delegates learned of Dr. Collins’ love of music, his deep spiritual faith, the importance of family or a support network and his early morning runs, which all help “lift big burdens from your shoulders,” he counseled. He emphasized the connectivity of our societies, saying, “I also have a deep concern about global health. We are a very fortunate country. We have resources. We have access to many kinds of technologies. Most of the rest of the world does
not, but we are all part of one family. Genomics has taught us that, and therefore, we have to shoulder some responsibility for those who are not blessed to live in a country like ours. Even as we move everything forward as fast as we can to save people in our own nation, we should be thinking and working towards doing the same for others in other parts of the world.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has been at the helm of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for 36 years, smiled as New York delegate Katerina Corr described him in her introduction as “completely apolitical and non-ideological; he is a scientist and a physician and that’s it.” Dr. Fauci stressed the need to work together, “getting more people to understand the importance of our responsibility to each other to preserve public health,” by wearing masks and avoiding crowded areas if possible. “We all have to be in this together,” he advised. Like Dr. Collins, Dr. Fauci encouraged all delegates to be open to all kinds of future opportunities. “Please keep an open mind and be very flexible in things that might get you excited about something you might want to do,” he said. His colleague Dr. Sharon Milgram shared many NIH internship and research opportunities for college students. All delegates were encouraged to consider a STEM pathway, as Dr. Fauci assured, “The next couple of decades are going to be the most amazing time for life sciences. We are going to make discoveries that will be absolutely game changing, and you could be part of that.”
NASA Astronaut Victor Glover and NASA Astronaut Kate Rubins
Chatting With
the Astronauts
Aboard the
International
Space Station
USSYP delegates have been privileged to visit NASA many times over the years, meeting with the NASA administrator and other high-level officials and scientists to learn about the research, development and science-focused public service career possibilities at a federal agency that is emblematic of American leadership and innovation. But not every class of delegates is afforded an opportunity to interact directly with the astronauts orbiting 254 miles above Earth in the International Space Station, as can be seen here.
White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy
in discussion with USSYP delegates
“When Ms. McCarthy goes to work, she is fighting for us, for our futures,” Massachusetts delegate Miriam Nelson remarked in her introduction. Beginning with her own inclination to public service, McCarthy, the first White House National Climate Advisor, commented, “It is the best, most honorable profession. You’re never going to get rich doing this, but you will have the richest life.”
Having led many environmental nonprofit and public sector agencies, including as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under President Obama, McCarthy offered career and life advice: “I would encourage you to think about life as a series of challenges you can create that keep every moment a learning moment. That is what makes things so fun.” She linked her collegiate studies in public health directly to her current role, asserting, “Climate change is the biggest public health challenge that we have ever faced.”
Accomplishing her mission will hinge on converting the national perspective on climate change and the shift toward clean energy from insurmountable obstacle to global economic opportunity. “We are going to try to convince people, and to show them how 10 million people can go back to work in the high-wage clean and renewable-energy sector,” she said. And her work will not stop at the nation’s borders. She described a plan “to deliver a path forward that puts us in a leadership position internationally,” reiterating that climate change will be one of the defining public policy issues of our era. McCarthy did not hesitate to draft USSYP delegates into joining her efforts to improve our nation and our world, saying, “There will always be a role for people like you who really care about crafting a future that welcomes all of us.”
“A position in public service has meant working with the best colleagues in the world, having the unique opportunity to tackle complex issues and problem sets and making a difference in the lives of the American people,” began U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks, the first woman to serve in this position. She is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Pentagon, the nation’s largest federal agency, with 2.91 million employees serving in 160 countries.
Forefront in her mind always is the primary mission of DoD, “To protect the security of the American people.” Seated at the iconic podium in the Pentagon Briefing Room for the event, Dr. Hicks discussed the wide breadth of work that entails — from mitigating against climate change, strengthening global alliances such as NATO, undertaking humanitarian missions and guarding against cyber threats. Building cooperation among nations through statecraft, not force, is paramount in preventing threat escalation, she noted. Pentagon decisionmakers must analyze issues far beyond what is “headline grabbing,” she explained, as with climate change, which raises myriad issues such as impacts on the safety of coastal Naval bases, the capacity of the military reserves during wildfire crises or hurricane recovery and even affecting capabilities far inland at midwestern Air Force bases. DoDEA delegate Caden Burkman summed up the feelings of many in his welcoming remarks: “You are revolutionary. Your passion for your field and your dedication to excellence is inspirational and will undoubtably serve to inspire me and my fellow delegates in our respective career paths.”
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr.
Kathleen Hicks speaking with delegates
from the Pentagon Briefing Room
Judge Robert H. Henry
Former Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit Robert Henry (Oklahoma-1971) exemplifies the USSYP mission, having served in all three branches of government as well as law school dean and university president. Undertaking his traditional role as Monday’s opening speaker, Judge Henry reflected on the current polarization of the U.S. electorate. “We know the people must have trust and confidence in their elected representatives if our free society is to survive. They must consider politics an honorable profession demanding the very best talent this country can produce.”
He lauded the “bipartisan powerhouse of historical note,” Senators Mansfield, Dirksen, Humphrey and Kuchel, who worked collaboratively in the early 1960s to bring about the Senate Youth Program, following the deeply polarizing era of McCarthyism in America. Judge Henry emphasized that we are still in the process of creating a more perfect union. “’We The People,’ our Constitution intones,” he said. “The concept of ‘people’ has grown over our existence, and our very diversity has become a great source of strength. We are dedicated to human rights, even if it has been a 200-year-plus struggle to determine and realize who humans really are.”
Colorado delegate Jonas Rosenthal closed the session with appreciation felt by all: “You’ve provided valuable insight into the interplay between our judiciary and our democracy.”
Learn more about the McCarthy era and the Senate here.
Judge Robert Henry
Former chief judge, u.s. court of appeals for the tenth circuit
USSYP alumnus
(OK-1971)
Lessons in
history and the constitution from judge Henry
Bio
Watch Recording
Norah O’Donnell
Anchor and managing editor, cbs evening news
The free press is
at the heart of
a functioning
democracy
Bio
Norah O’Donnell began with a quote from her famous predecessor Walter Cronkite: “Journalism is what we need to make democracy work.” Harkening further back, she continued, “The idea of a free press, the value behind it, originated with our founders. They enshrined it within the Constitution. The free press is at the heart of a functioning democracy.”
Speaking from the iconic set of the CBS Evening News in Washington, Ms. O’Donnell, who serves as anchor and managing editor, framed her remarks around life skills that are now enshrined in many 2021 USSYP Moleskine journals. “Write personal thank-you notes as often as you can,” she advised, and “be the most well-read person in the room, be a good listener, not a gossip, and look for opportunities in life where your passions and your skill sets align. Ultimately,” she counseled, “the quality of your life will depend on the quality of your relationships – nurture them.”
Delving into her craft, O’Donnell commented, “One of the hardest things to do is write the question. Ninety percent of getting the right answer is asking the right question.” Asked about her most memorable interview, she quickly shared a scene from her conversation with Nobel laureate and activist Malala Yousafzai, who had just escaped an attack by the Taliban. O’Donnell asked if she was afraid. “Why should I be afraid of someone who is afraid of me?” Yousafzai replied. Her confident answer is “something that has stuck with me my entire life,” O’Donnell said. D.C. delegate Steve Mirabello gave thanks on behalf of all, “I truly believe journalists like yourself, who give voice to the voiceless and hold leaders accountable for their actions, are key to an informed, nuanced and fact-based discourse.”
Norah O’Donnell addressing the delegates
from the CBS Evening News set in
Washington, D.C.
Senate Historian Dr. Betty Koed speaking
with the 2021 delegates from her office in
the Senate Hart Building
A critically important part of the Washington Week experience is the opportunity to hear directly from the Senate Historian who provides context, perspective and insight into current political events through lessons from the past. Dr. Betty Koed, who joined the Senate Historical Office in 1998 and has since become the first woman to hold this high-level appointed Senate officer position, has served as annual speaker for the USSYP since 2015. She has shared in-depth historical stories of the Senate and its leaders with USSYP delegates over the years, several of which can be viewed here.
Speaking via Zoom from her Senate office this year, Dr. Koed reflected on the division and polarization that are impacting the United States in many ways. Dr. Koed hopes that a silver lining may be “the fact that there are renewed calls for putting new emphasis on the teaching of history in our schools. There is a new call for expanding our level of civic education and for getting people reengaged and recommitted to our democratic way of life. Perhaps we sometimes need a reminder that democracy is not easy. It does not come for free. We have to work for it, and I think all of you are going to be really well prepared to help us move our democracy forward.”
Brian Kamoie
Distinguished
chair of
leadership,
United States
naval academy
USSYP alumnus
(Pa-1989)
What will you do with your one wild and previous life?
Bio
watch
recording
A 1989 USSYP delegate from Pennsylvania, and now the Distinguished Chair of Leadership at the United States Naval Academy, Brian Kamoie has experienced firsthand the lifelong impact of Washington Week. He began his remarks with a quote from Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet Mary Oliver: “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Kamoie suggested a three-part strategy: “Commit to serve, think big and take bold and ethical actions.” He opined that “the challenges we face today are getting harder,” but “the Senate Youth Program prepared me to have not only the passion to engage on these difficult issues, but also the confidence.”
Texas delegate Sara Beth Beasley asked about “imposter syndrome,” the feeling that one is not ready for a particular challenge. Kamoie responded, “We all have imposter syndrome, every single one of us. Anybody who tells you that they don’t is not telling you the truth. I think, fundamentally, imposter syndrome is part of the human condition. It means to me that you are doing something important and that you see what you are doing as so important that you want to get it right. That is part of human nature. Trust yourself, be confident and let your work speak for itself, and the road may be easier.” Kamoie urged all in the audience to carefully consider their decisions, sharing that “You have three things in life to give away: your love, your labor and the fruits of your labor. Choose carefully.”
Professor of Leadership, USSYP alumnus Brian Kamoie
Former NASA Astronaut Captain Scott Kelly
Washington Week ONLINE’s opening keynote speaker set some of the highest aspirational goals of the week, declaring, “The sky is not the limit.” Captain Scott Kelly spoke with authority as a veteran and commander of Discovery and Endeavour space shuttle missions and a longtime resident of the International Space Station. In response to Illinois delegate Yvin Shin’s question about space being “a politically neutral territory,” the former astronaut echoed a key tenet of the USSYP public service education mission, describing space as “common ground. Not really ground, but a common place to work together cooperatively.” Further, he shared, “Space flight is hard. You want to do it as part of a team. Space flight is really the biggest team sport there is.” At a young age, Captain Kelly decided, “If I’m going to fail at something, I might as well fail at something that I think I can’t possibly achieve rather than something that’s easier.” As the NASA astronaut who still holds the record for most days on a single spaceflight, he advised delegates to apply this ambitious approach in their lives: “See the big picture, find an inspiration or spark and set your goal.”
Captain Scott Kelly
Former nasa astronaut and commander of the
international
space station
The sky is not
the limit
Bio
watch
recording
Noah Harris
Undergraduate
student body
president at
Harvard
university
USSYP alumnus
(Ms - 2018)
You are whom
we have been
waiting for
Bio
watch
recording
USSYP alum Noah Harris (Mississippi–2018) served as keynote speaker for the first virtual Farewell Night in Washington Week history. He is no stranger to making history, being elected the first African American male president of the Harvard Undergraduate Student Council, publishing a motivational children’s book the year after his service as delegate and having been named a Truman Scholar for 2021, the nation’s premier graduate scholarship for public service.
Following a rousing video greeting produced with fellow USSYP alumni around the country, Harris offered passionate encouragement and inspiration: “Dare to believe in yourself: The answer to solving racial inequality is you. The answer to becoming carbon neutral is you. The answer to reducing political polarization is you. It’s all you. It’s your passion. It’s everything about you. You are whom we have been waiting for.” He added that a key to his success has been learning to “get comfortable being uncomfortable.” For those about to start college, Harris counseled, “Give yourself space to transition and struggle a bit. We all think we have to just drop in on Day 1, ready to go, ready to make the change we want, but I think you have to be real with yourself. You have to show grace to yourself; it’s really important.” Harris vividly recalled the highlight of his Washington Week in 2018, meeting the late congressman John Lewis. “There was not a dry eye in the room as Rep. Lewis told us about his experiences in places like my home state of Mississippi. Being in his presence changed the souls of everyone in that room. We were all so touched by his courage.” Harris encouraged the delegates to cherish their Washington Week experiences as he has and let the speakers’ words and actions serve as motivation on their own paths to public service.
Harvard Undergraduate Student
Body President Noah Harris
Quotes From
Speakers
“A position in public service has meant working with the best colleagues in the world and having the unique opportunity to tackle complex issues and problems sets that make a difference in the lives of the American people. I hope some of you will take this path, the nation needs your talents.”
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense
Dr. Kathleen Hicks
“The key to preserving public health is getting people to understand the importance of our responsibility to each other.”
Director of the National Institute
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Dr. Anthony Fauci
“There is a new call for expanding our level of civic education to get people reengaged and recommitted to our democratic way of life. We have lived through hard times before when we’ve been very divided. Yet as a nation we managed to pull together, and we did it largely through the strength of our youth.”
Senate Historian Dr. Betty Koed
“Foreign policy is directly connected to your life and your future. Can we rise to the challenge of climate change? How will the global economy shape your future careers and opportunities? Will we learn from the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent future health emergencies? Will we work with our allies and partners to avoid conflict and promote cooperation? How we answer these questions will help determine the world that you, your friends, and your children will live in.”
U.S. Secretary of State
Antony J. Blinken
“There are certain times to compromise, but you should never compromise your values or who you are. Dare to believe in yourself.”
Harvard Undergraduate
Student Body President
Noah Harris
(USSYP – MS 2018)
“Ethical leadership is not just about doing the right thing in your own decisions, but promoting ethical action among those you lead, creating a climate where people know what is right and wrong and know what is expected of them.”
Distinguished Chair of Leadership,
U.S. Naval Academy, Brian Kamoie
(USSYP – PA 1989)
“Sometimes what keeps you going are your dreams. Not what’s in front of you, but what you hope it could be. Do well because you have hope that the world would be better for others, that you could achieve more, and be in a position to help more.”
Associate Justice of the Supreme
Court Clarence Thomas
“If you’re not in the room, the conversation is about you. If you are in the room, the conversation is with you.”
Senator Tammy Baldwin
“The often-heroic struggle to determine who constitutes ‘We the People,’ and what the human rights of people are, has assuredly involved all three branches of government, checked and assisted by the fourth estate. We are dedicated to human rights, even if it has been a 200-year-plus struggle to determine and realize who humans really are.”
Former Chief Judge of the
Tenth Circuit Robert Henry
(USSYP – OK 1971)
“You are part of one of the most talented, tolerant and gifted generations in American history, and we need you. The American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us, on ‘We the People.’ ”
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
“Being a good leader is knowing who your teammates are and trying to elevate them. Space flight is really the biggest team sport that there is.”
Former NASA Astronaut
and Commander of the
International Space Station
Captain Scott Kelly
“Everywhere we go, we are all ambassadors. People are looking to us to reflect the best of America, to demonstrate our values, and what it means to advance U.S. interests overseas while respecting the sovereignty of the country in which we are serving.”
U.S. Ambassador to Brazil
Todd Chapman
“Climate change is the biggest public health challenge we have ever faced.”
White House National
Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy
“The free press is at the heart of a functioning democracy. Journalism can change lives for the better.”
CBS Evening News Anchor
Norah O’Donnell
“There is something very powerful that happens when we engage in trying to serve people around us. If we do a lot more serving, we will do a lot less fighting and find some real joy in the process.”
Senator James Lankford
“I have a deep concern about global health. We are a very fortunate country. We have resources and access to many kinds of technologies that most of the rest of the world does not, but we are all part of one family. Genomics taught us that, and therefore, we have to shoulder some of the responsibility for those who are not blessed to live in a country like ours.”
Director of the National Institutes
of Health Dr. Francis Collins
A Special Message froM the
President of the
United States
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
addressing the delegates
The 2021 USSYP delegates were assured they were in a Zoom like no other when the president of the United States made a surprise appearance with a personal message of congratulations. “You are part of one of the most talented, tolerant and gifted generations in American history,” he began, “and we need you!” President Joe Biden exhorted the delegates to apply their talents to surmounting the great challenges facing the nation: the pandemic and economic crisis, climate change, the reckoning on race and the health of our democracy and place in the world. “I hope you will learn from each other in the same way that I learned from my colleagues for 36 years in the Senate,” he counseled. “Whether from red states or blue states, small states or big states, we became friends. We got to know each other’s families. We would debate an issue hammer and tongs, but we would always see a colleague as a fellow American.” The president then shared one of the greatest lessons he learned as a senator, “It was okay to question another person’s judgment, but it was never okay to question their motive. Once you do that, it becomes almost impossible to find common ground to forge consensus in the government, and that is what we need today, consensus.”
Senator Tammy
Baldwin
of Wisconsin
Democratic Co-Chair of the 59th Annual United States Senate Youth Program
Senator Tammy Baldwin
speaking with students
“Senator Baldwin has dedicated herself to furthering equity by demanding fair treatment for all Americans,” said Wisconsin delegate Anika Larson in her introductory remarks for the 2021 USSYP Democratic Co-Chair. The Senator then engaged in a deep discussion of her life in public service and her core principles. From the Dane County Board of Supervisors to the U.S. House of Representatives and then the U.S. Senate, she rose through each office motivated to help a wider constituency. Senator Baldwin is also the first openly LGBTQ woman elected to the House and the Senate, in 1999 and 2013, respectively. “Everyone brings their life experience to their jobs,“ she noted. “You don’t leave it at the door like a coat check.”
A particular experience was a case in point. Having endured a lengthy hospital stay at age nine that was not covered by insurance, the senator fought for provisions in the Affordable Care Act to expand access to health insurance for young people. Illinois delegate Yvin Shin asked the senator about breaking barriers. “When you break a glass ceiling, whatever sort of ceiling that is, for women, members of the LGBTQ community or for people of color, it is an extraordinary responsibility and an honor, to inspire others,” she said. “All of you in this program are leaders — you can be that inspiration.” Breaking barriers also expands the debate, she noted. “There’s an old expression: If you’re not in the room, the conversation is about you, and if you’re in the room, the conversation is with you.” A diversity of backgrounds in policymaking makes the country stronger, she asserted: “Particularly in legislative bodies, it’s great when those legislative bodies look like America.”
Bio
Senator James
Lankford
of oklahoma
Republican Co-Chair of the 59th Annual United States Senate Youth Program
Senator James Lankford
speaking with students
Republican Co-Chair Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma focused immediately on the importance of finding common ground. “We’ve always had disagreements, and people trying to push each other down, but as Americans we find a way to work out our differences and are able to move forward together,” said the junior senator from the Sooner State who served for 15 years as the director of student ministry for the Baptist Convention of Oklahoma and as director of the largest youth camp in the United States.
Clearly in his element, the senator held an animated discussion spanning issues of climate change, March Madness basketball, his Taxpayer Right to Know legislation, the place of deep religious faith in public life and the fate of the filibuster in the Senate. Reflecting on the wide arc of topics, Senator Lankford remarked “There is something very powerful when we engage in serving people around us on issues of race, poverty, homelessness – we are given opportunities to be able to serve our neighbor. That is where we get our greatest joy. I find when we fight the most is when we are serving the least, so, if we do a lot more serving, we’ll do a lot less fighting and find some real joy in the process.” Senator Lankford’s exposure to public service began at a young age as the child of an elementary school librarian, as noted by Oklahoma delegate Sean Kuehn. The senator was certain that his mother would be thrilled to learn of her recognition at the USSYP. With encouragement to “Be genuine. Be who you are,” the senator shared how proud he was of the accomplishments that the USSYP class of 2021 had already achieved, and that he will be watching to see where their bright futures will lead.
Bio
Clarence
Thomas
associate justice of
the Supreme Court
Photo courtesy of C-SPAN
Discussing life, motivation,
ambition and the law
Justice Clarence Thomas began by generously sharing the story of his rise from a small town in Georgia to the highest court in the land. “What keeps you going are your dreams,” he said, “not what’s right in front of you, but what you hope it could be.” Although online, the annual USSYP Supreme Court event allowed the opportunity for many questions. Marissa Meador of Indiana asked about how Americans could become more informed about the Constitution. “Inform yourself,” Justice Thomas responded. “The better informed you are, the better you will be able to help others. If you want to teach, you have to learn first.” He enjoined the students to use the Supreme Court website to review cases in depth by reading the briefs.
As for qualities he looks for in his law clerks, Justice Thomas cited ability, work ethic and intense self-motivation. “There is also intellectual honesty,” he added. “We will look things right in the eye and say what we see.” Regarding the work environment in his chambers, Justice Thomas offered lasting career advice: “Learn to both receive and give criticism in a constructive way – that’s very hard,” he noted, “And always treat each other well. Just because you are upset at something, it doesn’t give you license to be unpleasant.”
Justice Thomas fondly described his years of service on the Court, and the deep connection among his colleagues, that “have become a family.” Georgia delegate Faith Townsend shared powerful sentiments in her appreciation remarks: “Your service constantly reminds us that the power of the United States lies not in our founding documents themselves but in the selfless protectors of them, like you.”
Bio
A VIRTUAL VISIT TO THE
Department of State
U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Todd Chapman discusses diplomacy and foreign policy with USSYP delegates from his post in Brazil
“I know that foreign policy can sometimes feel remote,” began Antony Blinken in his remarks from Tokyo, “but, in fact, it is directly connected to your life and your future.” The new secretary of state was taking part in a nearly 60-year Washington Week tradition of the USSYP visit to the Department of State. But this year was a chance to take that visit on the road.
Foreign Service Officers Katherine Ordoñez (top left) and Manuela Hernandez (top right) speak with the delegates from their offices in Brazil
U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Todd Chapman gave an overview of the Foreign Service mission. “Everywhere we go, we are all ambassadors,” he said, speaking from Brazil. “People are looking to us to reflect the best of America and to demonstrate our values.” Career Foreign Service Officers in Brazil Katherine Ordoñez and Manuela Hernandez also offered first-hand observations about life as diplomats.
State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter speaking with delegates from State Department headquarters in D.C.
From State Department headquarters in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of D.C., Principal Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter described her function, applying her wealth of Capitol Hill experience in policy and communications. She addressed questions ranging from world “hot spots” in crisis to the responsibility of being a groundbreaker as a woman of color and former professional dancer, bringing new sensitivities to her official post. Secretary Blinken’s closing remarks inspired many: “If diplomacy holds your interest, explore it further. Start following world events. Study another language. Learn about other cultures and consider applying for an internship with us when you are a college junior or senior. We’d love to have you.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken addresses the 2021 delegates from his first overseas visit to Japan and Korea, encouraging the students to consider careers at the State Department
Embassy Tour of U.S.
Embassy Brasilia, Brazil
DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
A Virtual Visit
to The National
Institutes of Health
Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health
NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins, who began his career as a leader on the Human Genome Project, assured delegates that when he was their age, he had no specific career pathway mapped out. The only presidentially appointed NIH director to serve more than one administration told the delegates, “I sure didn’t have a career plan when I was in your seats. Life is not likely to go along with plans that are put forward too far out because things change – new doors open and other doors close.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the
National institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Seated in his home study with shelves bulging with books and papers, Dr. Collins spoke of the impact that COVID-19 has had on society. He stressed the importance of balancing mental health and stress reduction as part of our daily routines during challenging times. Delegates learned of Dr. Collins’ love of music, his deep spiritual faith, the importance of family or a support network and his early morning runs, which all help “lift big burdens from your shoulders,” he counseled. He emphasized the connectivity of our societies, saying, “I also have a deep concern about global health. We are a very fortunate country. We have resources. We have access to many kinds of technologies. Most of the rest of the world does not, but we are all part of one family. Genomics has taught us that, and therefore, we have to shoulder some responsibility for those who are not blessed to live in a country like ours. Even as we move everything forward as fast as we can to save people in our own nation, we should be thinking and working towards doing the same for others in other parts of the world.”
Sharon Milgram, Director of the NIH Office of Intramural Education and Training
Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has been at the helm of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for 36 years, smiled as New York delegate Katerina Corr described him in her introduction as “completely apolitical and non-ideological; he is a scientist and a physician and that’s it.” Dr. Fauci stressed the need to work together, “getting more people to understand the importance of our responsibility to each other to preserve public health,” by wearing masks and avoiding crowded areas if possible. “We all have to be in this together,” he advised. Like Dr. Collins, Dr. Fauci encouraged all delegates to be open to all kinds of future opportunities. “Please keep an open mind and be very flexible in things that might get you excited about something you might want to do,” he said. His colleague Dr. Sharon Milgram shared many NIH internship and research opportunities for college students. All delegates were encouraged to consider a STEM pathway, as Dr. Fauci assured, “The next couple of decades are going to be the most amazing time for life sciences. We are going to make discoveries that will be absolutely game changing, and you could be part of that.”
Bios
Chatting With the
Astronauts Aboard
the International
Space Station
NASA Astronaut Victor Glover
and NASA Astronaut Kate Rubins
USSYP delegates have been privileged to visit NASA many times over the years, meeting with the NASA administrator and other high-level officials and scientists to learn about the research, development and science-focused public service career possibilities at a federal agency that is emblematic of American leadership and innovation. But not every class of delegates is afforded an opportunity to interact directly with the astronauts orbiting 254 miles above Earth in the International Space Station, as can be seen here.
Gina
McCarthy
White House national climate advisor
White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy
in discussion with USSYP delegates
Reshaping the Message on Climate Change
“When Ms. McCarthy goes to work, she is fighting for us, for our futures,” Massachusetts delegate Miriam Nelson remarked in her introduction. Beginning with her own inclination to public service, McCarthy, the first White House National Climate Advisor, commented, “It is the best, most honorable profession. You’re never going to get rich doing this, but you will have the richest life.”
Having led many environmental nonprofit and public sector agencies, including as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under President Obama, McCarthy offered career and life advice: “I would encourage you to think about life as a series of challenges you can create that keep every moment a learning moment. That is what makes things so fun.” She linked her collegiate studies in public health directly to her current role, asserting, “Climate change is the biggest public health challenge that we have ever faced.”
Accomplishing her mission will hinge on converting the national perspective on climate change and the shift toward clean energy from insurmountable obstacle to global economic opportunity. “We are going to try to convince people, and to show them how 10 million people can go back to work in the high-wage clean and renewable-energy sector,” she said. And her work will not stop at the nation’s borders. She described a plan “to deliver a path forward that puts us in a leadership position internationally,” reiterating that climate change will be one of the defining public policy issues of our era. McCarthy did not hesitate to draft USSYP delegates into joining her efforts to improve our nation and our world, saying, “There will always be a role for people like you who really care about crafting a future that welcomes all of us.”
Bio
Dr. Kathleen
H. Hicks
U.S. Deputy secretary of defense
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks speaking with delegates from the Pentagon Briefing Room
IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION AT THE PENTAGON
“A position in public service has meant working with the best colleagues in the world, having the unique opportunity to tackle complex issues and problem sets, and making a difference in the lives of the American people,” began the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks, the first woman to serve in this position. She is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Pentagon, the nation’s largest federal agency, with 2.91 million employees serving in 160 countries.
Forefront in her mind always is the primary mission of DoD, “To protect the security of the American people.” Seated at the iconic podium in the Pentagon Briefing Room for the event, Dr. Hicks discussed the wide breadth of work that entails — from mitigating against climate change, strengthening global alliances such as NATO, undertaking humanitarian missions and guarding against cyber threats. Building cooperation among nations through statecraft, not force, is paramount in preventing threat escalation, she noted. Pentagon decisionmakers must analyze issues far beyond what is “headline grabbing,” she explained, as with climate change, which raises myriad issues such as impacts on the safety of coastal Naval bases, the capacity of the military reserves during wildfire crises or hurricane recovery and even affecting capabilities far inland at midwestern Air Force bases. DoDEA delegate Caden Burkman summed up the feelings of many in his welcoming remarks: “You are revolutionary. Your passion for your field and your dedication to excellence is inspirational and will undoubtably serve to inspire me and my fellow delegates in our respective career paths.”
Bio
Judge Robert Henry
Former chief judge, u.s. court of appeals for the tenth circuit
USSYP alumnus
(OK-1971)
Judge Robert H. Henry
Lessons in history
and the constitution
from judge Henry
Former Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit Robert Henry (Oklahoma-1971) exemplifies the USSYP mission, having served in all three branches of government as well as law school dean and university president. Undertaking his traditional role as Monday’s opening speaker, Judge Henry reflected on the current polarization of the U.S. electorate. “We know the people must have trust and confidence in their elected representatives if our free society is to survive. They must consider politics an honorable profession demanding the very best talent this country can produce.”
He lauded the “bipartisan powerhouse of historical note,” Senators Mansfield, Dirksen, Humphrey and Kuchel, who worked collaboratively in the early 1960s to bring about the Senate Youth Program, following the deeply polarizing era of McCarthyism in America. Judge Henry emphasized that we are still in the process of creating a more perfect union, “’We The People,’ our Constitution intones,” he said. “The concept of ‘people’ has grown over our existence, and our very diversity has become a great source of strength. We are dedicated to human rights, even if it has been a 200-year-plus struggle to determine and realize who humans really are.”
Colorado delegate Jonas Rosenthal closed the session with appreciation felt by all: “You’ve provided valuable insight into the interplay between our Judiciary and our democracy.”
Learn more about the McCarthy era and the Senate here.
Bio
Watch Recording
Norah O’Donnell
Anchor and managing editor,
cbs evening news
Norah O’Donnell addressing the delegates from the CBS Evening News set in
Washington, D.C.
The free press is at the heart of a functioning democracy
Norah O’Donnell began with a quote from her famous predecessor Walter Cronkite: “Journalism is what we need to make democracy work.” Harkening further back, she continued, “The idea of a free press, the value behind it, originated with our founders. They enshrined it within the Constitution. The free press is at the heart of a functioning democracy.”
Speaking from the iconic set of the CBS Evening News in Washington, Ms. O’Donnell, who serves as CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor, framed her remarks around life skills that are now enshrined in many 2021 USSYP Moleskine journals. “Write personal thank-you notes as often as you can,” she advised, and “be the most well-read person in the room, be a good listener, not a gossip, and look for opportunities in life where your passions and your skill sets align. Ultimately,” she counseled, “the quality of your life will depend on the quality of your relationships – nurture them.”
Delving into her craft, O’Donnell commented, “One of the hardest things to do is write the question. Ninety percent of getting the right answer is asking the right question.” Asked about her most memorable interview, she quickly shared a scene from her conversation with Nobel laureate and activist Malala Yousafzai, who had just escaped an attack by the Taliban. O’Donnell asked if she was afraid. “Why should I be afraid of someone who is afraid of me?” Yousafzai replied. Her confident answer is “something that has stuck with me my entire life,” O’Donnell said. D.C. delegate Steve Mirabello gave thanks on behalf of all, “I truly believe journalists like yourself, who give voice to the voiceless and hold leaders accountable for their actions, are key to an informed, nuanced and fact-based discourse.”
Bio
Dr. Betty Koed
SENATE historian
Senate Historian Dr. Betty Koed speaking with the 2021 delegates from her office in the Senate
Hart Building
Perspective and Context In Historic Times
A critically important part of the Washington Week experience is the opportunity to hear directly from the Senate Historian who provides context, perspective and insight into current political events through lessons from the past. Dr. Betty Koed, who joined the Senate Historical Office in 1998 and has since become the first woman to hold this high-level appointed Senate officer position, has served as annual speaker for the USSYP since 2015. She has shared in-depth historical stories of the Senate and its leaders with USSYP delegates over the years, several of which can be viewed here.
Speaking via Zoom from her Senate office this year, Dr. Koed reflected on the division and polarization that are impacting the United States in many ways. Dr. Koed hopes that a silver lining may be “the fact that there are renewed calls for putting new emphasis on the teaching of history in our schools. There is a new call for expanding our level of civic education and for getting people reengaged and recommitted to our democratic way of life. Perhaps we sometimes need a reminder that democracy is not easy. It does not come for free. We have to work for it, and I think all of you are going to be really well prepared to help us move our democracy forward.”
Bio
watch recording
Brian Kamoie
Distinguished chair of leadership, United States naval academy
USSYP alumnus
(Pa-1989)
Professor of Leadership, USSYP alumnus Brian Kamoie
What will you do with your one wild and previous life?
A 1989 USSYP delegate from Pennsylvania, and now the Distinguished Chair of Leadership at the United States Naval Academy, Brian Kamoie has experienced firsthand the lifelong impact of Washington Week. He began his remarks with a quote from Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet Mary Oliver: “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Kamoie suggested a three-part strategy: “Commit to serve, think big and take bold and ethical actions.” He opined that “the challenges we face today are getting harder,” but “the Senate Youth Program prepared me to have not only the passion to engage on these difficult issues, but also the confidence.”
Texas delegate Sara Beth Beasley asked about “imposter syndrome,” the feeling that one is not ready for a particular challenge. Kamoie responded, “We all have imposter syndrome, every single one of us. Anybody who tells you that they don’t is not telling you the truth. I think, fundamentally, imposter syndrome is part of the human condition. It means to me that you are doing something important and that you see what you are doing as so important that you want to get it right. That is part of human nature. Trust yourself, be confident and let your work speak for itself, and the road may be easier.” Kamoie urged all in the audience to carefully consider their decisions, sharing that “You have three things in life to give away: your love, your labor and the fruits of your labor. Choose carefully.”
Bio
watch recording
Captain Scott Kelly
Former nasa astronaut and commander of the international space station
Former NASA Astronaut Captain Scott Kelly
The sky is not the limit
Washington Week ONLINE’s opening keynote speaker set some of the highest aspirational goals of the week, declaring, “The sky is not the limit.” Captain Scott Kelly spoke with authority as a veteran and commander of Discovery and Endeavour space shuttle missions and a longtime resident of the International Space Station. In response to Illinois delegate Yvin Shin’s question about space being “a politically neutral territory,” the former astronaut echoed a key tenet of the USSYP public service education mission, describing space as “common ground. Not really ground, but a common place to work together cooperatively.” Further, he shared, “Space flight is hard. You want to do it as part of a team. Space flight is really the biggest team sport there is.” At a young age, Captain Kelly decided, “If I’m going to fail at something, I might as well fail at something that I think I can’t possibly achieve rather than something that’s easier.” As the NASA astronaut who still holds the record for most days on a single spaceflight, he advised delegates to apply this ambitious approach in their lives: “See the big picture, find an inspiration or spark and set your goal.”
Bio
watch recording
Noah Harris
Undergraduate student body president at Harvard university
USSYP alumnus
(Ms - 2018)
Harvard Undergraduate Student
Body President Noah Harris
You are whom we have been waiting for
USSYP alum Noah Harris (Mississippi–2018) served as keynote speaker for the first virtual Farewell Night in Washington Week history. He is no stranger to making history, being elected the first African American male president of the Harvard Undergraduate Student Council, publishing a motivational children’s book the year after his service as delegate, and having been named a Truman Scholar for 2021, the nation’s premier graduate scholarship for public service.
Following a rousing video greeting produced with fellow USSYP alumni around the country, Harris offered passionate encouragement and inspiration: “Dare to believe in yourself: The answer to solving racial inequality is you. The answer to becoming carbon neutral is you. The answer to reducing political polarization is you. It’s all you. It’s your passion. It’s everything about you. You are whom we have been waiting for.” He added that a key to his success has been learning to “get comfortable being uncomfortable.” For those about to start college, Harris counseled, “Give yourself space to transition and struggle a bit. We all think we have to just drop in on Day 1, ready to go, ready to make the change we want, but I think you have to be real with yourself. You have to show grace to yourself; it’s really important.” Harris vividly recalled the highlight of his Washington Week in 2018, meeting the late Congressman John Lewis. “There was not a dry eye in the room as Rep. Lewis told us about his experiences in places like my home state of Mississippi. Being in his presence changed the souls of everyone in that room. We were all so touched by his courage.” Harris encouraged the delegates to cherish their Washington Week experiences as he has and let the speakers’ words and actions serve as motivation on their own paths to public service.