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Two Student Leaders Selected Representatives to United States Senate Youth Program

Tuesday, January 21, 2025


Two Wisconsin high school students have been selected to be the 2025 state representatives for the United States Senate Youth Program.

Isabella Dereszkiewicz-Hodowany (Sevastopol High School) and Nicholai Joseph Galusha (Greendale High School) were delegated by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jill Underly to be part of a group of 104 student leaders who will spend a week in Washington, D.C. to study the federal government. Dereszkiewicz-Hodowany and Galusha will join Sens. Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson during the USSYP Washington Week, to be held from March 1-8, 2025. During the week, the two will attend meetings and briefings with the president, senators, a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, and other officials. Each of the delegates will also receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study.

“Being selected to be part of this prestigious group is a testament to the incredible dedication, commitment to public service, and leadership abilities of both Isabella and Nicholai,” Dr. Underly said. “I have no doubt they will both continue to excel and inspire others as they engage with leaders and policymakers in our nation’s capital. This unforgettable experience will not only help shape their future, but it is also a reminder to all of us of the power of young people to make a lasting difference. I congratulate them on this achievement, and I cannot wait to see all that they will accomplish in the years to come.”

Isabella Dereszkiewicz-Hodowany has long, blonde hair and is wearing a black turtleneck sweater as she smiles in this school photograph
Dereszkiewicz-Hodowany, a senior at Sevastopol High School, co-founded and serves as the president of the Wisconsin Initiative for Superior Education, a nonprofit focused on expanding educational opportunities for rural students. In addition, she is active in youth government, helping shape a passion for equity and advocacy. She plans to study political science and neuroscience after high school, with a goal of exploring how brain structures influence political beliefs and behavior.
Joseph Galusha has short light brown hair, wears brown, thick-rimmed glasses, and poses in front of a white fence. He is smiling, and wearing a grey suit with a white dress shirt and a burgundy tie.
Galusha, a senior at Greendale High School, is the student representative on the district’s board and is an Eagle Scout, raising more than $100,000 in in-kind donations for his Eagle Scout Service Project. He is also a section leader on the school’s marching band, performing across the nation, and is a nominee for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. He hopes to study government at Harvard University, and aspires to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Alternates to the 2025 program were Angela Wang (University School of Milwaukee) and Finn Peterson (The Prairie School).

The goal of the program is to increase student understanding of the three branches of government, in addition to learning about the responsibilities of federally elected and appointed officials. In addition to boasting exemplary leadership abilities and a strong commitment to volunteer work, each of the delegates rank in the top 1 percent of their states among high school juniors and seniors. For more information on the USSYP, visit the organization’s website.