APS senior goes to Washington as part of youth Senate program

Alamogordo High School senior David Fillmore is one of 104 students chosen to be a part of this year’s United States Senate Youth Program, or USSYP.

“It’s about a week and a half long tour of Washington, D.C. that’s coed, supported by the Senators, the legislative and the judicial branch and they all get together, and they support the youth and there’s speakers and conversations about policy,” Fillmore said.

Those chosen to participate in the program get a $10,000 scholarship toward undergraduate study. Although the program encourages political science studies, Fillmore may end up taking a different route.

“I’m not entirely sure what I want to do with my life,” Fillmore said. “I hope the big part of my life can be interacting with people. I think people are the most important thing at the end of the day. As long as I’m able to talk to those around me and cooperate and work with them, it’s sort of my thing."

Some people have suggested that Fillmore go into politics, but he does not really like that idea.

"A lot of people have predicted me going into politics, but I never really trust career politicians, you know what I mean?" Fillmore said. "I mean, their job is to get elected and I find that kind of discomforting.”

Fillmore said that he thought he wanted to be a business consultant like his grandfather, but has not decided yet.

Fillmore has applied to three universities: Brigham Young University, Harvard University and Stanford University. He said that he was accepted at BYU.

He has not chosen a major course of studies yet.

“It’s still up in the air,” Fillmore said. "I’m hoping to figure things out more at college.”

Fillmore is a member of the Shockwave team that is designing a high-speed sled that will be tested at the Holloman High Speed Test Track in April.

He also serves as the secretary of the New Mexico State University-Alamogordo Student Council, the senior patrol leader for Boy Scouts of America Troop 127 and has been recognized as an Eagle Scout and member of the Order of the Arrow.

He was awarded the American Legion Prospero L. Sanchez Scholarship and the Eastern New Mexico University Presidential Talent Award.

He also volunteered as a precinct captain for Steve Pearce’s gubernatorial campaign.

Two high school students from each state are chosen to attend; Fillmore will be joined on the trip by Piedra Vista High School senior Katie Broten.

Fillmore and Broten will join U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich for the USSYP Washington Week March 2-9.

The program began under President John. F. Kennedy and is funded by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.