Greenwich Student Selected For Prestigious U.S. Senate Youth Program

GREENWICH, CT — A student from Greenwich High School was selected to the prestigious United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP), a national initiative that brings student leaders to Washington, D.C., for an intensive study of the federal government.

Esther Nabisere, a senior at GHS, joins Rania Das, a senior at Hopkins School in New Haven, as CT's 2025 delegates for the program.

Gov. Ned Lamont and Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker on Tuesday congratulated the students on the honor. Each student will receive a $10,000 undergraduate scholarship funded by The Hearst Foundations.

"Congratulations to Rania and Esther on their selection to the United States Senate Youth Program, a distinguished national honor recognizing exceptional young leaders," Lamont said in an announcement. "Their commitment to public service and their dedication to strengthening their communities reflect the very best of Connecticut, and I look forward to the contributions they will make as they help shape the future of our state."

Nabisere has led international community service efforts, supported congressional constituent outreach, and contributed to research at the Permanent Mission of Uganda to the United Nations, according to an announcement. She's active in civic engagement through the League of Women Voters of Greenwich and plans to continue her studies in public service and constitutional law.

"Esther's commitment to her home here in Greenwich and to the global community is inspiring to not only her classmates at Greenwich High School, but to each and every teacher that was fortunate enough to have her in their classroom," GHS Principal Ralph Mayo said in a statement to Patch. "We are overjoyed that all of Connecticut can now celebrate her successes like we do in Greenwich."

Created in 1962 through Senate Resolution 324, USSYP is a highly competitive, merit-based program that selects two students from each state to engage directly with federal officials and deepen their understanding of democratic leadership and public service.

Russell-Tucker said the students' selection "reflects their exceptional leadership and deep commitment to civic engagement."

The program, originally proposed by Senate leaders Thomas H. Kuchel, Mike Mansfield, Everett McKinley Dirksen and Hubert H. Humphrey, was established to broaden young Americans’ understanding of the relationships among the three branches of government, highlight the responsibilities of federally elected and appointed officials, and underscore the importance of democratic decision-making in the United States and globally.