Foxborough Regional Charter School Senior Reily Connaughton of Norton Awarded Prestigious Scholarship

Foxborough Regional Charter School Senior, Reily Connaughton of Norton is the latest FRCS student to receive an outstanding recognition for his talents!  Reily was selected as one of two Massachusetts students to serve in the United States Senate Youth Scholarship Program (USSYSP).  The USSYSP is a national initiative designed to provide “talented young people with demonstrated leadership abilities to deepen their understanding of America’s political processes and strengthen their resolve to pursue careers in public service.”  The merit-based and highly competitive program “brings the highest-level officials from each branch of government together with an outstanding group of high-school students and the chosen delegates are consistently outstanding ".  (www.USSenateYouth.org)

Established in 1962 by U.S. Senate Resolution, the United States Senate Youth Program is a unique educational experience for outstanding high school students interested in pursuing careers in public service. The annual program will be held in Washington, D.C., from March 9 - 16, 2013.  Two high school juniors or seniors are selected each year from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity to serve as delegates to Washington Week. The 104 student delegates also receive a $5000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science. Public and private high school teachers and principals nominate qualified students beginning in early fall. To qualify students must hold student body office or another elected or appointed position in their communities and show academic interest and aptitude in government, history and politics. Many states administer a comprehensive public affairs, government and history test prepared annually for the program by a college professor of political science and states may also ask for additional essays and/or personal interviews. The chief state school officer in each state makes the final selection by December 1.

Reily competed against over 100 other Massachusetts high school students for the honor to represent our state, as well as to embark on strengthening his already stellar leadership capacity.  After completing the requisite exam and demonstrating his commitment to service and leadership at Foxborough Regional Charter School and beyond, Reily was selected and achieved the extraordinary feat of being awarded this scholarship.