(U.S. SENATE) – Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines met with two of Montana’s brightest young students this week as part of the United States Senate Youth Program’s (USSYP) 54th Annual Washington Week. Out of hundreds of students from across the state, seniors Mollie Lemm of Polson, and Arthur Pettit of Missoula, were selected to represent Montana on Capitol Hill.
Lemm and Pettit joined a group of 102 other student delegates for an intensive week in the nation’s capital, where they met with Senators, Representatives, Ambassadors, Cabinet Members, and a Justice of the Supreme Court. The purpose of the program, which was originally established by the Senate in 1962, is to teach promising students about the ins and outs of government while inspiring them to pursue careers in public service.
“Washington needs more honest, hardworking talent from our neck of the woods,” Tester said. “That’s why it was such a pleasure meeting Mollie and Arthur, to talk with them about their future and encourage them to lead this next generation.”
“It’s an honor to congratulate Mollie and Arthur on their selection to the Senate Youth Program and welcome these two outstanding Montana students to Capitol Hill,” Daines stated. “They are both committed and talented students and I look forward to watching Mollie and Arthur apply what they’ve learned this week back to their communities.”
Mollie Lemm is a senior at Polson High currently serving as a Senior Class representative. She is involved in speech and debate, and is currently working as an intern at a local newspaper. Mollie is passionate about writing, the environment, and bettering her school and community. Her future goals include seeing as much of the world as possible and examining how politics and the environment shape society. She plans to pursue a degree in journalism.
Arthur Pettit is a senior at Loyola Sacred Heart High School and serves as the Student Body vice president. Additionally he is a member of the Key Club, participates in Loyola Sacred Heart’s championship speech and debate team, and writes for the school newspaper. He plans to study international relations in college for a career in the Foreign Service or the legal arena.
Tester and Daines met with Lemm and Pettit at the USSYP’s Annual Reception Wednesday night, where the students were recognized for their impressive achievements and awarded a scholarship. In addition to a trip to D.C., every student delegate receives a $5,000 scholarship from the Hearst Foundation.
###