One of the Stennis Center for Public Service’s specific duties outlined by Congress is to “foster a sense of civic responsibility among the youth of the United States,” which is straight from the Stennis Center’s enabling legislation (P.L. 100-458—Oct. 1, 1988; Subtitle B). The Stennis Center offers a variety of programs to help young people better understand the inner workings of Congress for those who aspire to have a career in public service.
Student Service Corps
Student Service Corps (SSC) is a program that promotes the growth of civic responsibility and a mindset of service among youth in the United States. SSC accomplishes this through two main components: 1) encouraging young people to serve their communities through government agencies and nonprofit organizations, and 2) promoting career choices in public service.
Congress to Campus provides college students with a unique civic education by engaging them in honest dialogue with bipartisan teams of former members of Congress, congressional staff, and American diplomats. Whether sessions take place in-person on campus, or in a virtual format, these dialogues bring today’s issues to the forefront and showcase the benefits of healthy partisanship and civility within disagreement.
The Stennis Center for Public Service’s Scholars Day on Capitol Hill provides an annual opportunity for students to visit the U.S. Capitol and congressional offices. The program allows students to consider how they might prepare and provide public service leadership in their careers.