Washington – U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor today announced that KenDrell Collins of Osceola and Jordan Hannink of Greenbrier have been selected as Arkansas’s delegates to the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). The two students were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be part of the 104 student delegates who will attend the program’s 48th annual Washington Week March 6-13.
“Young people like KenDrell and Jordan are great examples of the best and brightest that Arkansas has to offer the nation, and they will do a great job representing our state in Washington,” Lincoln said. “I am proud of KenDrell and Jordan for their impressive records of leadership, academic achievement and dedication to serving their communities. I commend these student leaders for taking an active interest in public service and pursuing this opportunity to learn about our federal government.”
“This program offers KenDrell and Jordan a unique opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at the workings of the U.S. Senate and federal government,” said Pryor, a member of the U.S. Senate Youth Program Annual Senate Advisory Committee. “They have proven themselves to be leaders in their local communities and committed to affecting positive change, and I look forward to hearing how this experience may influence their future endeavors.”
While in Washington, the student delegates will attend meetings and briefings with Senate leadership, other Senators and Congressional staff, the President, a Justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of Cabinet agencies, an Ambassador to the United States, and top members of the national media.
KenDrell Collins attends Osceola High School, where he serves as Class Vice President. He is President of Future Business Leaders of America and participates in Key Club, Odyssey of the Mind, People to People International and Bible Club. KenDrell also volunteers with Special Olympics and Cystic Fibrosis. He is preparing for a career in higher education at a top university and would love to hold public office someday.
Jordan Hannink attends Greenbrier High School, where she serves as Student Council Vice President. She is the editor of the school newspaper, District President of Future Business Leaders of America, a member of the yearbook staff and Rapid Response Vice President. Jordan is an alumnus of the Presidential Youth Inaugural and Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership conferences, and Faulkner County Youth Leadership Institute. Jordan also volunteers for her church and plans to attend law school and become a public servant.
Chosen as alternates to the 2010 program were Siteng Ma, a resident of Little Rock, who attends Little Rock Central High School and Aidan Baker, a resident of Huntsville, who attends Huntsville High School. The chief educational officer in each state selects the delegates after nomination by teachers and principals. This year’s delegates were designated by Dr. Tom Kimbrell, Commissioner of Education. Two students from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity are selected for the USSYP each year.
