GWHS Student Body President Chosen for U.S. Senate Youth Program

Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) have announced the names of the two students who have been selected as delegates to the 54th annual United States Senate Youth Program to be held March 5-12 in Washington, D.C.

Arka Gupta of Charleston and Adrien Inman of Martinsburg were chosen to represent West Virginia at the program’s 54th annual Washington Week.

Gupta attends George Washington High School in Charleston and serves as the student body president. He is a captain of the JROTC program and junior Civitan governor for West Virginia and Ohio. His experience at the West Virginia Public Defender’s Office has sparked an interest in law, and his internship at the T.H. Chan Harvard School of Public Health also furthered his dedication to community service. These experiences are pointing him toward a career representing underserved populations in the United States and across the globe.

Inman attends Spring Mills High School in Martinsburg and has served as a student council representative for two years. He plans to be a Naval Officer and work for the State Department.

“I am so proud to congratulate West Virginia’s student delegates Arka Gupta and Adrien Inman for being selected to participate in the 54th annual United States Senate Youth Program,” said Capito, a Senate Advisory Member for the 54th annual USSYP. “As leaders in their schools and communities who are dedicated to public service, Arka and Adrien have earned a place among the nation’s top high school students in this prestigious program. I look forward to welcoming them to Washington.”

“I am proud to congratulate Arka Gupta and Adrien Inman on being selected as West Virginia’s delegates in the U.S. Senate Youth Program this year,” Manchin said. “Both Arka and Adrien are accomplished young leaders who, through hard work and dedication to their communities and academics, have proven their commitment to learning and understanding our great democracy. The Senate Youth Program provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our brightest students to get a firsthand perspective on the role of federal government and to explore a future in public service. I hope Arka, Adrien and all of these students selected for this program get the most out of this outstanding program, and I look forward to meeting with them when they come to Washington, D.C. in March.”

During the 54th annual Washington Week, the students will meet with Capito and Manchin. They will also attend meetings and briefings with the president, congressional members and staff, a Justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of Cabinet agencies, an ambassador to the United States and senior members of the media. They will also tour many of the national monuments and museums in Washington, D.C.

The Hearst Foundations also provides each student with a $5,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs. The intensive, weeklong educational experience and scholarship is sponsored by the United States Senate and fully funded by the Hearst Foundations.

The chief educational officer in each state selects the delegates after nomination by teachers and principals. This year’s delegates were designated by Dr. Michael J. Martirano, West Virginia’s Superintendent of Schools.