Capito and Manchin Announce West Virginia Students Selected for United States Senate Youth Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today announced the names of the two students who have been selected as delegates to the 54^th annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) that will 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 54^th annual Washington Week.

“I am so proud to congratulate West Virginia’s student delegates Arka Gupta and Adrien Inman for being selected to participate in the 54^th annual United States Senate Youth Program,” said Senator Capito, a Senate Advisory Member for the 54^th 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,” Senator 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 54^th annual Washington Week, the students will meet with Senators 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, and tour many of the national monuments and museums.

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 week-long 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. Student bios are included below.

Arka 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.

Adrien Inman attends Spring Mills High School in Martinsburg and has served as a student council representative for two years. As a member of Rotary Interact, and in leadership positions that include captain of the varsity soccer team, Adrian has worked to bring people together. Active in a wide variety of music, sports, theater, politics and community service activities, he has also been an exchange student in China. He plans to be a Naval Officer and work for the State Department.

Chosen as alternates to the 2016 program were Madeline Young, a resident of Huntington who attends Cabell Midland High School, and Erykah Roach, a resident of Point Pleasant who attends Point Pleasant Junior/Senior High School.

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