WASHINGTON – Two Maine students have been selected to participate in the 40th annual United States Senate Youth Program in Washington, D.C.

The first Maine representative is Amy Rogers of Bangor, who serves as chaplain at Bangor High School. Rogers is a member of varsity softball, varsity cheerleading, varsity track, chorus, jazz choir and jazz band. She is National Honor Society president, FCA vice president, opera all-state, jazz all-state, and active in the fellowship of Christian athletes. She plans to major in communications or pre-medicine, and pursue a career in medicine.

The second delegate is Christopher Sighinolfi of Brewer, who serves as senior class and student council president at Brewer High School. He is a member of National Honor Society, Se Beowulf (English honor society), Key Club, math team, cross-country, swimming, track, and he volunteers his time as a peer tutor. He plans to attend college and enter graduate school in either medicine or business.

The state’s high school delegates were named by J. Duke Albanese, state commissioner of education, and announced by Sens. Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins.

The two students will spend an all-expenses-paid week, from March 2 to 9, visiting Capitol Hill, the White House, the Pentagon, State Department, Supreme Court and other highlights in the nation’s capital. In addition, they’ll receive $2,000 college scholarships, meet and talk with senators, representatives and other government leaders and policymakers.

Each year, two students from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Schools overseas visit Washington for an intensive weeklong government study fully funded by the William Rudolph Hearst Foundation. The delegates are selected by each state’s chief school officer in cooperation with high school principals.

Serving as 2002 alternates for Maine are Michael Boulette of Monmouth, who attends Monmouth Academy; and Christopher Roy of Cape Elizabeth, who attends Cape Elizabeth High School.