Building a better world: Khan World School at ASU Prep student’s journey to the U.S. Senate Youth Program finals

The United States Senate Youth Program, established in 1962, is a highly competitive educational experience for outstanding high school students interested in public service careers. Each year, two student leaders from every state are selected to spend a week in Washington, D.C., where they experience the federal government in action. Delegates meet with senators, cabinet members, Supreme Court justices and even the president. Each student also receives a $10,000 college scholarship to encourage their continued studies in history and political science.

For Analiese, the USSYP has been a long-term goal that has shaped her high school career. “I grew in my leadership and dedication to public service,” she reflects. “I never would have realized these things if I hadn’t set my eyes on that program.”

Of the program’s core values—leadership, education and public service—it is the last one that resonates most deeply with her. Analiese describes a personal transformation from a self-described “secluded” and “self-centered” teen to a passionate community advocate.

This newfound passion led her to volunteer with the Televerde Foundation, an organization that helps women rebuild their lives after incarceration. There, she co-chaired a backpack program and helped establish transitional housing for graduates. “This program is really life-changing for these women and their children,” she explains. “Seeing that firsthand has shown me the power of giving back and the massive impact it can have.”

Analiese credits much of her growth and confidence to her experience at Khan World School, a unique online model where students solve real-world problems through Socratic-style discussions and self-directed projects. She points to her seminar course as particularly transformative.

“Seminar has been one of my favorite courses I’ve ever taken. It really teaches us research and helps create critical thinking skills,” Analiese says. “It taught me active listening and knowing when to speak and when to be quiet. Sometimes you just need to sit back and listen to others’ opinions.”

Jaeger describes the community as truly exceptional: “We get to work with the smartest people we’ve ever met every day who are half of our age,” she says, highlighting how KWS fosters an environment where students inspire and challenge one another—and their teachers—to grow.

This collaborative environment helped Analiese overcome a significant personal hurdle: shyness. Having been an online student since seventh grade in a model with little student interaction, she was initially nervous about KWS’s requirement to engage in live discussions and debates.

“For the first three months, every time I had to unmute my mic to get my participation points, my heart would be beating so fast,” she recalls. “But now, I participate all the time. Just speaking in front of a class really helped my bravery. Going into the USSYP interview, I feel a lot less scared than I would have three years ago because I’ve had so much experience with speaking whatever comes to my mind.”

Jaeger notes that Analiese’s proactive nature is a perfect fit for the innovative KWS model, which rewards curiosity and empowers student agency. “Normally, it’s us saying, ‘Is anyone interested in this?’ Analiese is the reverse,” Jaeger says. “She brings opportunities to us and says, ‘I want to do this.’”

As an example, Jaeger recounts how Analiese, as a freshman, discovered the Arizona Seal of Civics Literacy and immediately approached the school to learn how she could earn it for her diploma. By her sophomore year, she had already completed all the requirements.

This same initiative is evident in her extensive community involvement. Analiese is a member of the Governor’s Youth Commission, the Student Advisory Board for the Arizona State Board of Education, Model UN and the National Honor Society, among others. She’s an ambassador for the O’Connor Institute’s Civics and Debate Club and has volunteered over 200 hours for various causes. She even founded a varsity letter program for athletics like equestrian sports, a passion in which she is an award-winning competitor.

The flexibility of the online learning model at KWS has been crucial in allowing her to pursue these activities. “She can sit in on an afternoon council meeting because she is not tied to a school building all day,” Jaeger explains. “She has a lot of agency and ownership over her schedule. I think the space, the freedom, the support and the opportunities have all been key.”

As she prepares for the final stage of the USSYP selection process, Analiese is focused and hopeful. “I’m very excited just to be a top 10 finalist,” she says. “If selected, I think it will really give me an opportunity to deepen my understanding of the federal government and network with peers who share my passion for public service.”

With plans to graduate high school with 50-60 college credits, Analiese intends to double-major in college—likely in international business and history or philosophy—before heading to law school. Regardless of the outcome of the USSYP selection, her path is set toward making a significant impact.

Jaeger sees Analiese’s journey as a testament to the power of personalized education and a source of inspiration for the entire school. “To watch her grow and to be able to help her, even just by writing a letter of recommendation or finding contacts for something she’s interested in, is something that we just really value in our school community,” she says. “It is so rewarding, fulfilling and fun to watch these passions grow.”