John Boozman

Two Arkansas high school students will represent the state on the national stage alongside Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton at an upcoming event.

Manvitha Narasimhan of Bentonville and Eric Tang of Little Rock will attend the 64th annual U.S. Senate Youth Program Washington Week from March 7-14, according to a Tuesday news release from the Arkansas Department of Education.

Students participating in this program will undergo a weeklong study of the federal government while meeting with U.S. senators, President Donald Trump, a Supreme Court justice and other high-ranking government officials.

Narasimhan and Tang will join the delegation of 104 students. Two students are selected from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity. Participants each receive a $10,000 undergraduate scholarship.

Delegates are selected by the departments of education in each state, including the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity, after nomination by teachers and principals. Two alternates are also selected who can attend Washington Week if either original delegate is unable to participate.

Jacob Oliva, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Education, confirms the Washington Week delegates and alternates in the state.

Narasimhan is a senior at Bentonville High School and serves as a District Student Advisory Board member for the Bentonville School District, according to the news release. She also serves on the National Speech and Debate Association's Student Leadership Council, the Arkansas Communication and Theatre Arts Association Student Advisory Board and is the captain of her school's debate team.

Her other accomplishments include:

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme candidate

Arkansas Girls State delegate, where she was elected president of the senate

Member of Boozman's Congressional Youth Cabinet

Vice president of Arkansas DECA, an organization focused on leadership and entrepreneurship

Creative director for the Academy for Public Service

National Merit semifinalist

Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy recipient in French

2025 All-State violinist

Tang is a senior at Little Rock Central High School and serves as the vice president for the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, according to the news release. He also founded the school's Key Club, where he coordinates service initiatives that support both campus needs and local organizations.

Other accomplishments include:

National Merit semifinalist

Attorney general at Arkansas Boys State and first alternate selection for Boys Nation

Two-time Clinton Foundation Student presidential honoree

Captain of the Science, Engineering, Communication, Mathematics, and Enrichment Marketing Team

Member of the Little Rock Central High School swim team, National Beta Club, National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society and Model U.N.

Counselor-in-training at Camp Aldersgate, a summer camp for children with special needs

Michael Drake Norris, an Alma resident enrolled at Haas Hall Academy Fort Smith, and Uijin Joann Kim, a Jonesboro resident enrolled at Valley View High School, are Arkansas' alternates this year.

The Senate Youth Program began in 1962 and has more than 6,300 alumni, including Susan Collins, a U.S. senator from Maine; Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. secretary of transportation; and Chris Christie, former governor of New Jersey.