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Students

Internship Opportunities

An internship in my office provides a great opportunity for students to learn first-hand how our government works. Interns gain valuable knowledge and experience by having hands-on opportunity to learn about the legislative process, as well as the operations of a Congressional office.

Youth Advisory Council

WA-09's Youth Advisory Council gives community-minded and civically engaged students an opportunity to delve into and discuss the issues most important to them and to our community with the congressman and his staff. Students serving on the Youth Advisory Council will learn about legislation coming before the U.S. House of Representatives and share their insight with Rep. Smith. All current high school and college students living in Washington’s Ninth District are eligible to serve on the Youth Advisory Council. Find more information and to apply, click here.

Congressional Art Competition

Every year, Members of Congress sponsor a nation-wide arts competition for high school students. The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our congressional district. Learn more about the 2024 Congressional Art Competition here.

Congressional App Challenge

Each year, the U.S. House of Representatives hosts the Congressional App Challenge. This is an annual coding competition designed to encourage middle school and high school student participation in computer science and coding, regardless of experience. It is an opportunity for students to compete against other peers within their district by creating an original application in a variety of programming languages and on different platforms. Find more information about the Congressional App Challenge here.

Military Academy Nominations

Young people who are genuinely interested in pursuing a career in the military service and who are looking to build a career foundation at one of our esteemed service academies are encouraged to open a file in our district office by sending a letter of interest. Find more information about military academy nominations here.

Student Financial Aid

Information is available to students looking to learn more about the process of locating and applying for financial aid.

Just for Kids

Below you will find exciting information about the United States government and other fun things.

Do You Know What Happened on This Date in History?

Ben's Guide to U.S. Government
Learn how your U.S. Government works, about its history and your civic responsibilities by reading these pages and playing the games on this site.

Kid's in the House: The Official Kid's Page of the U.S. House of Representatives
Learn about the legislative process and its effect on you. Experience the exciting world of government like you never have before.

Kid's News
Read news just for kids at the Washington Post Kid's Post Page.

First Gov for Kids
The federal government's portal for fun, educational and safe sites for kids.