Saints Senior to Represent RI at Senate Youth Program

Saint Raphael Academy senior Cooper Arnold will represent Rhode Island in the 59th annual United States Senate Youth Program Washington Week. The conference will be held March 14-17 and will be held virtually for the first time due to COVID-19 restrictions. In addition to being selected for the conference, the highly competitive program awards each representative a $10,000 college scholarship. Cooper is one of two students selected among the state’s top student leaders.

“The USSYP interested me because I wish to major in political science in college,” said Cooper. “After that, I would love to get my JD in law school and eventually work with the United States government. The senate program is a fantastic way to learn about governmental affairs, administrative government, and the three different branches of government. Also, it will be a great way to connect with other delegates from all over the country to talk about politics, government, and our shared interests.”

Cooper, a Johnston resident, is very involved in the Saints community. He is the vice president of the senior class has also held class president and vice president positions in his previous three years at Saints. He enjoys acting with the award-winning Saints Drama Club, and also participates on the Mock Trial team, is a staff writer for the school newspaper and a member of Lasallian Youth.
In 2020, Cooper received the Rhode Island Civic Leadership Award from Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea. In addition to being consistently named to the Academy’s honor roll, he is also a member of the National Honor Society and the recipient of the Brown University Book Award. 

According to the program press release, the overall mission of the program is to help instill the student delegates more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service. In addition to the program week, The Hearst Foundations provide each student with a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs.