AK DEED has announced four student recognition programs for the 2026-2027 academic year. Each program has unique elements and may interest a different subset of your students. Please share the opportunities below with your students, faculty, and staff. We encourage any student interested to apply.
Each of the four programs are detailed below. They are:
- United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) – Contact Dr. Bjørn Wolter, bjorn.wolter@alaska.gov
- Academic Presidential Scholars Program – Contact Dr. Bjørn Wolter, bjorn.wolter@alaska.gov
- CTE Presidential Scholars Program – Contact Dr. Bjørn Wolter, bjorn.wolter@alaska.gov
- Arts Presidential Scholars Program – Contact the Alaska State Council on the Arts, asca.info@alaska.gov
#1 – 2027 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP)
The Department of Education & Early Development is soliciting applications for the U.S. Senate Youth Program—a national program sponsored by the Federal Senate and underwritten by the Hearst Foundation. It is open to juniors and seniors who hold elected positions in student government during 2026-2027 academic year. Students must be enrolled in a public or private school. State delegates will have outstanding leadership qualities and a strong commitment to public service. This is an equitable opportunity for student leaders from across the state and we encourage students from rural areas to apply.
Each delegate receives a $12,500 undergraduate scholarship and will participate in the USSYP Washington Week in Washington, D.C., March 6-13, 2027, where two Alaska students will join 102 other delegates for an intensive educational program about the workings of the Senate and the federal government overall.
Interested students will apply online via Google Forms. Students will need a Google-affiliated email address to apply but may specify an alternate contact email address if they prefer. Students can visit the form multiple times to fill out various sections. It will automatically save and only be transmitted to DEED when they press the submit button at the end of the form. Required signatures will either be collected via DocuSign (directly from DEED) or in person by the student and uploaded to the form.
Please forward this announcement to any student you think may be interested in applying. Applications are due by 5 pm on October 23, 2026.
Click here for more information on the USSYP. Also, please feel free to contact Bjørn Wolter with any questions at (907) 465-6542 and bjorn.wolter@alaska.gov.
Special notes:
- Please carefully review the submission form with applicants. There are four separate signatures needed, including principal, guardian(s), and representative of elected body the student represents. Applicants should coordinate how signatures will be gathered – via DocuSign from DEED or in person by the student and uploaded.
- Students are required to submit a brief video as part of their application. Please review the process for submission with applicants.
- All applications must be received at DEED by 5pm on October 23, 2026. Digital submissions are required.
- Official transcripts must be sent by either the school principal, registrar, or counselor directly to the program coordinator. Transcripts must include an unweighted GPA. DEED will not calculate this for your students, and failure to include it may result in the application being denied.
- Each school can recommend only one applicant. If a principal expects interest from multiple students, they will need to do some internal decision-making about whose name to forward.
- Applicants must hold an elected office for the entire 2026-2027 academic year. For more information on qualified positions, please review the USSYP brochure that is part of the attached application packet.
- Applicants must be either juniors or seniors.
- The Hearst Foundation provides a scholarship of $12,500 to each state delegate.
- If selected to represent the state, the nominee must be available to attend the entire Washington Week from March 6-13, 2027. Travel to Washington, D.C., accommodations, and food are provided to delegates free of charge by the Hearst Foundation.
#2, 3, & 4 – 2027 Presidential Scholars Program
The Department of Education and Early Development is seeking applications for the 2027 Presidential Scholars, CTE Presidential Scholars, and Arts Presidential Scholars programs. The state may nominate up to ten (10) male and ten (10) female high school seniors who exhibit exemplary academic achievement, up to five (5) high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding success in Career and Technical Education programs, and up to five (5) high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding success in the Arts. Scholars for all programs will be chosen by a commission based on outstanding scholarship, as well as artistic achievement, leadership, and community service. The programs are open to seniors graduating between January and June 2027 and who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. Students at public, private, and home schools are eligible. These are not scholarship programs; they are recognition programs. Presidential Scholars, CTE Presidential Scholars, and Arts Presidential Scholars will receive a medallion at an expenses-paid ceremony in Washington, D.C. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on 4 November 2026. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Only two scholars per school may be nominated.
For more information and to download student applications, please visit: https://education.alaska.gov/RecognitionPrograms/