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Two Idaho students named delegates to U.S. Senate Youth Program; alternates named
Summary
Two Idaho high school seniors — Adelie Elam of Fruitland High School and Jenny Hammond of Emmett High School — were introduced to the Senate Education Committee as delegates to the 2025 United States Senate Youth Program; two alternates were also named and all four described their post‑graduation plans.
Two Idaho high school students introduced themselves to the Idaho Senate Education Committee after being selected as the state's delegates to the United States Senate Youth Program. Adelie Elam of Fruitland High School and Jenny Hammond of Emmett High School will travel to Washington, D.C., for the program; alternates Nicholas (Nick) Mendez of Caldwell High School and Mason Gibbons of Kuna High School were also introduced.
The program, created by a U.S. Senate resolution in 1962, sends two student delegates from each state to Washington for a week of briefings and meetings with federal officials. The committee was told the 2025 national program runs through March 8. Each delegate also receives a $10,000 undergraduate scholarship awarded through the program.
Adelie Elam said she was “super honored” to be selected and that she is ‘‘looking forward to hopefully running for positions in public service in the future.’’ Jenny Hammond said the experience had already strengthened skills she expects to use in college applications, debate and future careers: “I’m walking away with far more than a scholarship.”
Alternate delegate Nick Mendez, a Caldwell High School senior who said he will attend Stanford University in the fall to study Earth and Planetary Science and international relations, described how local teachers and district supports helped him prepare. Mason Gibbons, an Eagle resident and Kuna High School student who said he will attend the U.S. Naval Academy and study nuclear engineering, said the program helped him broaden his viewpoint by meeting students from other states.
Committee members asked the students about their grade level eligibility (finalists were seniors this cycle) and about the application process. Students described submitting essays and participating in interviews and finalist panels that lasted multiple hours.
Following the introductions, several committee members invited the student finalists to offer ideas on improving public education. Students who spoke urged more support and pay for teachers, expanded career and technical education program (CTE) access, and structural changes to extracurricular roles to increase access for students who work outside school.
The committee closed the presentation by wishing the delegates well in Washington and thanking them for their remarks.
