WASHINGTON — Like many visitors to the nation’s capital, Elizabeth Zinsser Walworth and Delvyn Caedren Case III toured the Smithsonian Institution, watched Congress in action, and traveled to the White House.

But there is something special about these guests. These two teen-agers are Maine’s delegates to the Senate Youth Program.

The Senate Youth Program was established in 1962 to reward high school juniors and seniors from around the country for their interest in government and to encourage them to become involved in public service.

Funded by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, the Senate Youth Program awards $2,000 scholarships to two students from each state and the District of Columbia who serve as class officers or officers in the National Honor Society.

The winners spent a week in the nation’s capital, where they had a chance to discuss current issues with senators, tour the Supreme Court, and meet President Clinton.

Walworth applied for the scholarship after reading an announcement at school.

“After I heard about the program, I immediately talked to a teacher about it,” Walworth said, adding that the program’s focus on interest in the government was “right up my alley.”

As part of last week’s activities, Walworth participated in a mock joint session of Congress, toured the Library of Congress, met with Senate Youth Program committee co-chairman Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., and visited the Library of Congress.

“One thing that I thought was very interesting was when I questioned Senator Domenici about the clean air bill,” she said. “He sidestepped me a little at first, but after that we had a very lively discussion.

“Senator (William) Cohen stayed for a while and discussed the issue of gays in the military, which I found highly enjoyable.”

Late Thursday morning, the scholars went to a banquet where C-SPAN President Brian Lamb, the guest speaker, talked about the changing role of the media in politics. In the afternoon, they went to the Senate, where they were able to hear the historic vote on the family and medical leave bill.

“The part that I am most looking forward to is meeting Colin Powell at the Pentagon,” she said. “I have been considering joining the Navy and flying in combat, and I wanted to get his views on the changing roles of women in the military.”

The ambitious Lewiston High School senior has been accepted early at Princeton, where she expects to study political science. After college, Walworth is considering attending law school and wants to become involved in public service.

Unlike most of the delegates, Cumberland Foreside resident Case plans to major in music composition and theory at Yale University, where he was accepted early.

However, he is extremely interested in politics, “although not as a career.”

Case is treasurer of his class at Greely High School. During his high school career, he was selected to participate in the Portland Youth Symphony Wind Ensemble, where he played the euphonium and the piano.

Among his many academic achievements, Case received the Greely Academic Excellence Award for receiving straight A’s three years in a row. He is also a member of the National Honor Society and the French National Society.

Case has enjoyed his experience in Washington, especially observing parliamentary procedure.

“Another activity I enjoyed was speaking with (Supreme Court) Justice (Anthony M.) Kennedy, whom I found to be very interesting and eloquent,” Case said.

Case was looking forward to visiting the White House Friday and meeting President Clinton.