Democrat Brian Schatz was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2012 by Gov. Neil Abercrombie after the death of Sen. Daniel Inouye. Before his current position, Schatz was a member of the state House of Representatives, the chair of the Democratic Party of Hawaii and most recently, the Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii.

Recently, Sen. Schatz started a high school internship program dedicated to young students looking for leadership opportunities and hands-on learning about the U.S. Senate.

Schatz is looking for 15 bright, self-motivated students from across the state of Hawaii to fill small positions in his Honolulu offices. Teens who are selected must be able to work under pressure as well as have good writing and communication skills.

Public, private and charter school students are encouraged to apply. Students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA as well as access to personal email. Interns will be selected according to leadership, community involvement and life experiences.

“Of course, [interns] need to have good academic and community credentials, but I am primarily looking for motivation to be of service to others. [Schatz Seniors] was intended to engage young people meaningfully in public service,” said Schatz.

The internship,  known as Schatz Seniors, provides students with a forum to share current and relatable topics with the senator, as well as training to become leaders and advocates for their communities. Interns will find opportunities to address issues and attend special activities.

“I believe strongly in public education, from early childhood education to college. We needed help in our office in terms of research and outreach, and we feel that high school seniors can assist,” said Schatz.

The Senior Schatz program is still in its early stages, and changes may still come.

“I hope that this is the beginning of their journey in public service,” said Schatz.