Uxue Sansinena
LAPS News:
Los Alamos High School senior Uxue Sansinena has been selected as one of only two outstanding young leaders to represent New Mexico as a delegate to the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) this spring.
She will also receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship. Uxue was recognized by the LAPS School Board during their meeting last Tuesday.
“Politics have always fascinated me,” Uxue said. “Over the years, by involving myself in speech and debate, working on the Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation, and interning with the New Mexico Legislature, I have learned a lot about local and state policy implementation. However, the expanse of national politics remained distant and complex to me. I saw the United States Senate Youth Program as a way to grow my perspectives. Visiting the political hub of the United States and speaking with Washington officials about their journeys and insights felt like the perfect way for me to see how I fit into the puzzle of national policy. I cannot wait to learn at the heart of U.S. politics.”
Uxue commented that being selected to represent the state of New Mexico is a great honor. “I hope to share our unique perspective and culture with my fellow delegates.,” she added.
The USSYP was founded by Senate Resolution in 1962. Each year two of the highest-achieving high-school student leaders from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education system overseas, are selected to serve as delegates to the program, through an extremely competitive merit-based selection process held at the state departments of education nationwide.
The 63rd Annual United States Senate Youth Program Washington Week will be held March 1–8, 2025 in Washington, DC. Delegates will hear major policy addresses by senators, cabinet members, officials of the Departments of State and Defense, leaders of other federal agencies and senior members of the national media. Delegates also traditionally participate in a meeting with a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and the president of the United States. Most speaking events include in-depth question-and-answer sessions.
“I am very excited about meeting leaders otherwise only seen on television,” Uxue noted.” I look forward to possibly asking a Supreme Court justice how they separate personal morality from objective legal interpretation and hearing from USSYP alumni on their work in Washington and how the program impacted them. I have also never been to Washington, so I can’t wait to be taken to the capitol and tour important sites through the program.”
Uxue is the daughter of Jose-Maria Sansinena and Virginia Olazabal. She is president of the LAHS National Honor Society, drum major for the high school marching band, president of the French club, executive director of the Hilltalkers, Key Club president and a student director for the Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation. She is also involved with Rotary Interact and Mu Alpha Theta.
Last summer she was an intern for the New Mexico Legislative Education Study committee and worked on a statewide middle school reform project, providing policy recommendations to the committee in October 2024.
After graduation, she is planning on pursuing an undergraduate degree in political science with a focus in public policy before attending law school.
“I am incredibly grateful to those who have supported me through this process, from my parents to my recommenders, teachers, mentors, and friends,” she said. “Thank you to the Hearst Foundation for providing this opportunity and the NMASSP for selecting me to take part in such a prestigious and educational experience.”