USSYP
TOPEKA — Two Kansas students have been selected as delegates to the 63rd annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) that will take place in Washington, D.C. in March.
The overall mission of the program is to help instill within each class of USSYP student delegates more knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service.
Erin Tims, a senior Larned High School, Larned USD 495, and Sophia Hsu, a senior at Mill Valley High School, De Soto USD 232, were selected out of 23 Kansas students to join the 104-student delegation from across the U.S. who will attend Washington Week, March 1-8, 2025.
They are expected to meet with U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall of Kansas as well as the President, a U.S. Supreme Court justice, leaders in cabinet agencies and other officials throughout the week.
They will also each receive a $10,000 college scholarship, fully funded by the Hearst Foundations, for their collegiate undergraduate studies with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs.
Erin Tims
Tims serves as president of her school’s student council. In this role, she organizes activities including the back-to-school bash, pep rallies, spirit days throughout the year, and trick or treating to collect canned food for the local food pantry.
Additionally, as National Honor Society (NHS) president, Tims organizes the induction ceremony for newly inducted members and leads discussions to make NHS a more active organization within her community. She is a frequent volunteer at the local thrift shop and has served as a volunteer at the Lions Club Christmas baskets project. She has represented Larned High School at the state tournaments for golf, debate, and forensics, and was a state medalist in golf.
“Erin is an incredible student who excels in everything she does—from golf and drama to her outstanding work in the classroom,” said Dustin Wilson, principal at Larned High School. “Her dedication and talent are truly impressive, and we’re so proud to have her represent Larned High School and our community in this prestigious program.”
Tims has attended Sunflower Girls State where she was elected as a Supreme Court justice. She was also elected to represent the state of Kansas at Girls Nation in Washington, D.C. While there, she was elected as minority party whip and gained knowledge about the role of the federal government. She plans to study political science or criminal justice in college, obtain a law degree and pursue a legal career.
Sophia Hsu
Hsu serves as the president of her National Art Honor Society. In this role, she designed her sculpture "The Flight of Florescence," earned its $20,000 approval from the city of Shawnee, and worked with her STEM peers over three years to construct it. The sculpture has catalyzed involvement with the entire community and has become a flagship symbol of youth engagement.
She is also the president of bands, varsity debate captain, Model UN vice president, and engages in her National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society.
“Sophia is an outstanding representation of what a Mill Valley student is capable of achieving,” said Dr. Gail Holder, principal of Mill Valley High School. “She is kind, caring, brilliant, honest, and most importantly, hard working. She is a student who takes every opportunity afforded her and works to ensure that it is done with her very best effort.”
Hsu received her school's first perfect score in the state-level clarinet solo competition and made the district band in 2024. She has competed at the National Speech and Debate Tournament twice in Public Forum Debate and placed third in state for International Extemporaneous Speaking. She has earned 60 hours of community service volunteering at her local library, mentoring middle school clarinet players, and as an election poll worker. Hsu has also helped her Relay for Life team raise more than $3,000 for cancer research, contributing to her school-wide fundraiser of more than $600,000 for the American Cancer Society. She hopes to major in political science in college, and perhaps work for the Congressional Research Service.
Chosen as Kansas alternates to the 2025 program were Ava Shirin Aslinia, a Blue Valley High School student, Blue Valley USD 229, and Rishabh Harshvardhan Barve, a Blue Valley West High School student.
Delegates and alternates are selected by the state departments of education nationwide and the District of Columbia and Department of Defense Education Activity, after nomination by teachers and principals. The chief state school officer for each jurisdiction confirms the final selection. The 2025 Kansas delegates and alternates were designated by Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson.
For more information on the U.S. Senate Youth Program, go to www.ussenateyouth.org.