[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 16, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S1568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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    RECOGNIZING NORTH DAKOTA'S DELEGATES TO THE SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM

 Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, one of the outstanding programs 
offered in the U.S. Senate recognizes the best of America's high school 
juniors and seniors. Since 1963, the U.S. Senate Youth Program has 
selected two students from each State who rank high academically, excel 
in leadership and volunteerism, and have a passion for public service. 
They also receive a $10,000 college scholarship.
  These young delegates have come to Washington, DC, every spring for a 
week of education and tours highlighting all three branches of 
government. This year's 59th annual Washington Week gathering last week 
was conducted in a virtual online format, and I know it was a memorable 
experience for the 104 student delegates from across the Nation who 
attended.
  As one of the eight Senators serving on the Senate Youth Program's 
Advisory Committee, I congratulate all who were selected to be 
delegates this year. I had the recent opportunity to have an online 
conversation with North Dakota's two delegates, Athalia Haughton and 
Micah Schlittenhardt.
  Athalia is a junior at Century High School in Bismarck and is the 
local chair and State programs director of the High School Democrats of 
America. She is an AP Scholar with honor, a student council 
representative, student congress member, and is the cofounder and 
president of Student Advocates of North Dakota. She was a semifinalist 
in State debate, nationally qualified in the Lincoln Douglas debate, is 
a two-time State qualifier in speech, a One Act Play State champion, 
and was a member of the first-ever North Dakota team to become a World 
Schools Debate national qualifier. She crafts blankets for local 
immigrants, volunteers at Heaven's Helpers soup kitchen, and raises 
money for the Alzheimer's Association. Athalia has prepared testimony 
advocating for international cultural diversity classes in North Dakota 
public schools and is passionate about reducing the stigma surrounding 
mental health, especially for students. After graduation, Athalia 
intends to attend Howard University to pursue political science and law 
degrees. She would like to become a politician and a policy writer at 
either a State or national level.
  Micah, a senior at Legacy High School in Bismarck, is president of 
the North Dakota Association of Student Councils. She ranks first in 
her class of 320 students, is an AP Scholar, and a Presidential 
Citizenship Award recipient. She is president of the Legacy Concert 
Choir and a member of the National Honor Society and the Bismarck-
Mandan Student Chamber. She is involved in varsity cheerleading, All-
State Jazz Choir, Central Dakota Children's Choir, and Academic 
Allstate. She has been an advocate for Parkinson's disease and 
Alzheimer's awareness and support within her community and has 
partnered with a locally-owned bakery to pioneer an annual fundraiser 
to raise money for respite care. She has been recognized as the 2021 
Distinguished Young Woman of North Dakota and Miss North Dakota's 
Outstanding Teen 2018. After graduation, Micah plans to attend the 
University of Mary in Bismarck to study philosophy. She would like to 
study abroad in Vatican City and eventually pursue a career in 
academia.
  I congratulate both Athalia and Micah for this honor and welcome them 
to an alumni group of Senate Youth Program delegates, which is 5,500 
individuals strong. Many of them have gone on to distinguish themselves 
in every area of public service. I fully expect that we will hear much 
more about Athalia and Micah in the future as they continue to excel in 
academic and professional arenas throughout their lives.

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