View the letter at Tricities.com

About a year ago, I became involved with a grassroots movement to create the U.S. Public Service Academy, this country’s first national civilian university. The U.S. Public Service Academy would be modeled after this nation’s military academies; it would be a civilian West Point, a guiding beacon highlighting America’s need for the best and the brightest of its youth to work in the public sector.

The academy would give 5,100 of this nation’s best youth the opportunity for a free undergraduate education in exchange for five years of public service upon graduation. There are currently identical bills in the House of Representatives and the Senate that would create this academy.

Although this is a new idea for this generation, the idea for a national university first came from George Washington. Now as 44 percent of all government employees are set to retire within the next five years, we need the academy more than ever. The U.S. Public Service Academy would create a steady flow of capable graduates eager to serve America wherever she needs them.

Sure, college graduates certainly have the option of going into the public sector upon graduation, but most accumulate so much debt from school that working for the government is just not a practical option. Working for the government has become seen as a last resort for most college graduates; however, it is a dignified calling that deserves a high place of importance in our society.

In conclusion, the time is now for the U.S. Public Service Academy; the United States has an obligation to create this institution, so Americans will once again see public service as one of the noblest ways to serve this great nation.

Brad Copenhaver
Meadowview, Va.

By Gabriella Termont, Texas Youth Advisory Counci

The U.S. Public Service Academy Youth Advisory Council has proven that young leaders with a strong interest in making this dream come true have a huge impact on government officials.

After a Youth Conference in D.C., several high school and college students worked to gain additional support for the Academy, and they sure have succeeded. The USPSA now has 114 co-sponsors in the House and 21 co-sponsors in the Senate. The numbers continue to rise, but additional help in spreading the word is always needed.

What can be done?

All it takes is a five minute phone call and a 30 minute meeting. Trust me, it’s worth it. Martie Serna and I made a phone call to Congressman Chet Edward’s office. We scheduled a meeting, and a week later we were sitting in his office on Capitol Hill talking to him face-to-face. Although it was a bit overwhelming at first, we got the ball rolling and showed him how excited we were to have his attention and be able to share with him our interest in the Academy.

We shared with him that our belief that the Public Service Academy needs to be established stems from wanting to give other people what we couldn’t have – a free education with a five year public sector service commitment. Since we couldn’t have the chance to go to such an institution and do what we want to do after, the least we can do is work as hard as we can to ensure that future generations have the opportunity.

The meeting with Rep. Edwards was an experience I’ll never forget – Martie and I left his office feeling accomplished and after one meeting, we wanted more. Meetings will not always be successful, but in time, the Academy itself will be a success.

From Minnesota Campaign Report…

This election cycle has been a landmark year for a new generation of young voters. All over Minnesota, young people are volunteering for campaigns, donating at fundraisers, and taking more interest in politics than ever before. Often politicians do little more than pay lip service to young constituents, but recently, two members of the Minnesota delegation have gone a step further: they are willing to stand up for what the youth want.

Within the last two weeks Congresswoman Betty McCollum and Congressman Collin Peterson have signed onto the U.S. Public Service Academy bill.  The U.S. Public Service Academy is an initiative to create a four-year undergraduate institution focused on public service. Academy students would receive a free education in exchange for five years of government service after degree completion.  Graduates would serve at the local, state, or federal levels of government.

In a nationwide poll of young people (ages 18-29) 88% of young people said they would support the creation of the U.S. Public Service Academy; youth are dedicated to making this initiative a reality.  Young people in Minnesota are also getting involved: youth from Crookston to Minneapolis are pushing this initiative forward.

In total, the Academy bill has 113 co-sponsors in the House and 20 co-sponsors in the Senate. Representatives Peterson and McCollum join Minnesota Democratic Representatives Walz and Ellison, who have already sign onto the bill.  You can check www.uspublicserviceacademy.org to learn more about the Academy.